Study Shows Video Laryngoscopy Is More Effective Than Direct Laryngoscopy When Intubating Patients During Surgery

New research led by the Cleveland Clinic shows that video laryngoscopy significantly decreased the number of attempts needed to achieve intubation in patients who required single-lumen endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia compared with direct laryngoscopy.

The study is the largest of its kind thus far, examining 8,429 eligible surgical procedures in 7,736 patients. The researchers compared “hyperangulated video laryngoscopy with direct laryngoscopy in intubating patients.” Kurt Reutzler, M.D., an anesthesiologist who led the research, said that “successful and timely attempts to intubate greatly decrease poor outcomes such as respiratory and hemodynamic complications, including hypoxemia, aspiration, airway trauma, and even cardiac arrest.”

Within the trial, “more than one intubation was required in 1.7% of patients randomized to receive video laryngoscopy” and “7.6% of patients randomized to receive direct laryngoscopy.”

Dr. Reutzler touts the results, which come from “the largest airway trial ever performed,” as having the potential to “change clinical practice, as results clearly indicate that video laryngoscopy is superior to direct laryngoscopy and should be the default device in all patients.”

Cleveland Clinic’s website has the news release.