Difficult intubations happen unexpectedly. Video laryngoscopy cuts through the uncertainty and increases first-attempt intubation success1 — giving you confidence to care for patients in the operating room. And, when used universally for routine and emergency intubations, video laryngoscopy can reduce long-term patient complications and lower stress in the OR.2
Given its tremendous impact on patient outcomes, choosing a video laryngoscope is an important decision. In this blog post, we’ll cover the criteria you should look for, including:
While difficult intubations are rare — occurring in one to four percent of all intubations — they are difficult to predict.3,4 In fact, more than half of all difficult intubations are unanticipated2, which can contribute to an already high stress level in the operating room.1 Nearly three quarters of unanticipated difficult intubations happen in routine patients with ASA I or II ratings.5 The resulting complications can cause long-term complications for patients.6
Patients that require more than two intubation attempts see their risk of complications increase dramatically. The two most frequent complications are esophageal intubation and hypoxia — those risks increasing by six- and seven-fold respectively after two or more intubation attempts.6
Related: Learn more about the benefits of video laryngoscopy. Read our clinical evidence guide.
Seeing the vocal cords is a key element in increasing your first intubation attempt success rate. The McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope has been associated with improved glottic visualization compared to traditional Macintosh laryngoscopy.7 And when compared to direct laryngoscopy in route intubations, the McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope had a higher first intubation attempt success rate.8
Choosing a durable video laryngoscope is vital to meeting the demands of the operating room. The McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope is durable and designed to endure in the fast-paced hospital environment.9 And, at an effective cost, it’s within reach for every intubation.10
Related: To learn more about the costs of video laryngoscopes, read our blog.
The unique design of the McGRATH™ MAC video laryngoscope allows you to retain the traditional laryngoscopy skill that you have honed through years of experience. And, with one handle and multiple blade options, it helps you treat a range of routine intubation patients from pediatric to adult.
With its unique design and durability, the McGRATH ™ MAC video laryngoscope is a clear choice for all of your intubation needs.
1. Lewis et al. Video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy for adult patients requiring tracheal intubation. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2016
2. Cook TM, MacDougall-Davis SR. Complications and failure of airway management. Br J Anaesth. 2012;109 Suppl 1:i68–i85.
3. Oriol-López SA, Hernández-Mendoza M, Hernández-Bernal CE, Álvarez-Flores AA. (2009). Assessment, prediction and occurrence of difficult intubation. Revista Mexicana Anesthesiologia. 2009; 32(1):41–49.
4. Nørskov AK, Rosenstock CV, Wetterslev J, Astrup G, Afshari A, Lundstrøm LH. Diagnostic accuracy of anaesthesiologists' prediction of difficult airway management in daily clinical practice: a cohort study of 188 064 patients registered in the Danish Anaesthesia Database. Anaesthesia. 2015;70(3):272–281.
5. Huitink JM, Lie PP, Heideman I, et al. A prospective, cohort evaluation of major and minor airway management complications during routine anaesthetic care at an academic medical centre. Anaesthesia. 2017;72(1):42–48.
6. Cook TM, Woodall N, Frerk C; Fourth National Audit Project. Major complications of airway management in the UK: results of the Fourth National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Difficult Airway Society. Part 1: anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth. 2011;106(5):617–631.
7. Shin M, Bai SJ, Lee KY, Oh E, Kim HJ. Comparing F5 MAC, C-MAC®, and Macintosh laryngoscopes operated by medical students: a randomized, crossover, manikin study. Biomed Res Int. 2016; 2016:8943931.
8. Kriege M, Alflen C, Tzanova I, Schmidtmann I, Piepho T, Noppens RR. Evaluation of the McGrath MAC and Macintosh laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in 2000 patients undergoing general anaesthesia: the randomised multicentre EMMA trial study protocol. BMJ Open. 2017;7(8):e016907.
9. Based on internal test report #REP352, Drop test (hand held) of McGRATH MAC video laryngoscope (001-015-000 revision).
10. Noppens R. Cost effectiveness of video laryngoscopy for routine use in the operating room. Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care. 2018; 23: 10.