Novice residents' endotracheal intubation skill retention on a simulated mannequin after rotating at an anaesthesiology department: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the endotracheal intubation skill retention of the McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope with that of the Macintosh laryngoscope in first-year residents rotating at an anaesthesiology department.

METHODS: This randomized controlled study enrolled first-year residents who completed a 2-month rotation at an anaesthesiology department. Each rotation group was randomly assigned to the Macintosh laryngoscope (ML) or McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope (MML) group. Endotracheal intubation skills were evaluated on a mannequin after the rotation and at 3 and 6 months later. The primary endpoint was the time required for intubation. The secondary endpoint was the percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score.

RESULTS: Forty-six residents participated in this study and were assigned to the ML group ( n  = 23) or the MML group ( n  = 23). There were no significant differences between the sex, age and the number of endotracheal intubation procedures performed between the two groups. The time required for intubation was significantly shorter in the MML group compared with the ML group. The POGO scores did not show any significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Compared with endotracheal intubation training using the Macintosh laryngoscope, the McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope shortened the intubation procedure and its effect remained even after 6 months.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR Clinical Trials, UMIN000036643, URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp.