Comparison of successful intubation with two different blades of laryngoscope: single-use and reusable.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many types of single-use blades are manufactured with different designs and materials. There have been several reports of difficulties in obtaining a view of the glottis with single-use laryngoscopes. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the quickness and the success rate of endotracheal intubations with two different laryngoscope blades: disposable laryngoscope blades and reusable laryngoscope blades. METHODS: The study included 200 patients aged 18 to 70 who were admitted to the operating room of the Ali Ebne Abitaleb Hospital in Zahedan. The patients were randomly divided in two groups. Disposable laryngoscope blades were used for the first group and reusable laryngoscope blades were used for the second group. The endotracheal intubation duration and the failure rate of the intubation were assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: No failures and prolongations of intubations were found in the reusable laryngoscope blades group compared with 21% incidence of prolonged intubations and 14% incidence of failed intubations in the prolonged intubations group which led to change of the laryngoscope by the anesthetists (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The single-use laryngoscope blades appear to be efficient devices because they do not modify the ease of endotracheal intubation in most cases. Nonetheless, for difficult intubations it is advised to maintain conventional laryngoscopes in reserve.