Video Laryngoscopy Is Better Than Direct Laryngoscopy in the ED After Cardiac Arrest

Video laryngoscopy (VL) has been shown to improve first-pass success relative to direct laryngoscopy (DL) in several settings (NEJM JW Emerg Med Jan 2013 and Ann Emerg Med 2012; 60:739; NEJM JW Emerg Med May 2014 and Intensive Care Med 2014; 40:629). Using data from a prospective observational study, these authors compared performance of VL and DL in adults intubated after cardiac arrest in 15 Japanese emergency departments between 2012 and 2017.

Of 3360 patients, 18% were intubated using VL and 51% had a Cormack-Lehane grade view of 1 (best view). The overall first-pass success rate was 71%. First-pass success was significantly higher with VL than DL (78% vs. 70%), even after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33). …