Comparison of Early Endotracheal Tube Insertion With GlideScope Use

Comparison of Early Endotracheal Tube Insertion With GlideScope Use

Patients presenting for elective surgery will be randomized to having the breathing tube inserted partly into the throat prior to GlideScope insertion, or having it inserted fully after GlideScope insertion.

Patients presenting for elective surgery requiring orotracheal intubation will be randomized to having the Early Endotracheal Tube (ETT) inserted into the pharynx prior to GlideScope insertion and then having the ETT advanced under GlideScope guidance into the trachea, or, being intubated in the standard fashion with the GlideScope being inserted first and having the ETT then advanced via the pharynx into the trachea. The primary outcome is time to intubation.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Any adult patient booked for elective surgery requiring orotracheal intubation.
2. Any operator who has performed ≥ 20 GlideScope intubations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any patient in whom the use of the GlideScope is contraindicated in the opinion of the attending anesthesiologist.
2. Any patient with cervical spine abnormalities.
3. Any patients with known or probable difficult airways.
4. Any patient requiring rapid sequence induction.