Background: Difficult airway management remains one of the most challenging clinical situations encountered by anaesthetists.
Aim: The study compared the effectiveness of the McGrath MAC video laryngoscope to the McCoy® laryngoscope in patients with difficult airway.
Materials and methods: Following the institution's ethical approval, the randomised controlled trial was conducted involving 74 adults with American Society of anaesthesiologists' physical status (ASA) grading of I-III scheduled for elective surgery. The Patients were randomised into either group MVL (McGrath MAC) or group MCC (McCoy) and intubated after preoxygenation with 100% oxygen and administration of IV propofol and suxamethonium. The Intubation Difficulty Score (IDS), success rate of intubation, time to intubation, number of optimising manoeuvres and complications was assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0 computer software (IBM SPSS Statistics, IBM Corp. NY, United States). Numerical and categorical data were compared using the student's t-test and Chi square (χ2) test respectively. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Lower IDS scores were noted in the McGrath group; 54.1% vs. 5.4% of patients had IDS score of 0 in the McGrath and McCoy groups respectively, (P < 0.001). Overall success rate was higher in the McGrath group (100% vs. 89.1%), P = 0.040.
Conclusion: Lower IDS scores and improved intubation success rate was achieved with the McGrath compared with the McCoy laryngoscope in patients with predicted difficult airway. The McGrath has proved to be useful in managing patients with difficult airway.
Keywords: Difficult airway; Intubation; McCoy laryngoscope; McGrath MAC video laryngoscope.
Copyright: © 2023 Journal of West African College of Surgeons.