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Single-use laryngoscope blades are appealing because they do not require cleaning and they minimize potential for patient cross-contamination. However, in previous studies, plastic disposable blades have performed poorly compared to reusable metal blades (JW Emerg Med Oct 12 2007 and JW Emerg Med Feb 14 2006). To evaluate performance of a single-use metal laryngoscope blade, investigators block-randomized 1072 adult patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation at four French hospitals to direct laryngoscopy with either a single-use metal Macintosh blade (575 patients) or a conventional reusable Macintosh laryngoscope blade (497 patients). Intubations were performed by anesthesiologists, anesthesiology residents, or nurse anesthetists.
Intub…