Traditional laryngoscopy has a learning curve, which disadvantages the novice or inexperienced intubator. The reason for that learning curve is that the clinician is required to create a straight line of sight for visibility of the larynx and the vocal cords. This often requires manual manipulation of the airway, and sometimes a bit of force.
The McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope places the clinician's eyes at the end of the blade, imparting the ability to see around the curvature of the tongue, and this translates to less tissue manipulation.
The McGRATH™ MAC has a number of features, which help maximize your first attempt intubation success. Improved optics, four times more pixels in the camera, a brighter LED, and a wider field of view enable a crisp, clear image of the anatomy.* The handle and blade design mimic that of the traditional Macintosh direct laryngoscope handle, so there's no change in muscle memory.
Related: See the evolution of the McGRATH™ MAC, including the latest features and enhancements.
There are significant benefits to having a McGRATH™ MAC reusable handle and disposable blades. There is the convenience of always being ready. There is no need for the device to be removed from the area of care between patient use in order to be sterilized. Disposable blades are more cost effective and also remove the need for repeated device sterilization, but without sacrificing patient safety. And a wide range of disposable blade sizes means that patients of all sizes can be intubated.
The features of the McGRATH™ MAC also help keep clinicians safe. Better airway visibility and an unchanged laryngoscopy technique enable clinicians to have higher first pass intubation success. This can result in a reduction in the time spent performing laryngoscopy, minimizing the time over an open mouth, and lessening the potential for droplet transmission.1,2
Related: Read more about recent guidelines to help protect against droplet-borne pathogens.
There are significant benefits to having an attached or integrated video screen compared to a remote screen. A remote screen removes the focus away from the airway, and the clinician needs to move their eyes and head in order to introduce adjuncts, direct assistant hands, or even orientate themselves in the mouth. With an integrated screen, the patient becomes the center of a wider field of the clinician vision.
We know that difficult intubations are often unanticipated. The McGRATH™ MAC has been shown to have the highest rate of intubation success when compared to other video laryngoscopes.3
Review the evidence that supports using the McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope to improve intubation success. Get the clinical evidence guide.
*As compared to the previous version of the McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope
1. Hall D, Steel A, Heij R, Eley A, Young P. Video laryngoscopy increases 'mouth-to-mouth' distance compared with direct laryngoscopy. Anaesthesia. 2020. Doi:10.1111/anae.15047.
2. Lohse J, Kriege M, Alflen C, Noppens R. Video laryngoscopy vs. direct laryngoscopy – Influence of the training status on the performance in both settings: An interim evaluation of a prospective, randomized, clinical trials. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care. 2017;12:18. Doi:10.1016/j.tacc.20217.01.011.
3. Kleine-Brueggeney M, Greif R, Schoettker P, Savoldelli GL, Nabecker S, Theiler LG. Evaluation of six videolaryngoscopes in 720 patients with a simulated difficult airway: a multicentre randomized controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. 2016;116(5):670-9.