Two Different Laryngoscopes Perform Similarly in Patients with Mallampati Class III or IV Airways

Researchers in Australia randomized 80 elective surgery patients with Mallampati class III or IV airways without other markers of difficult airways to undergo intubation with a McGrath video laryngoscope or a conventional laryngoscope with a Henderson straight blade. The primary outcome was the Cormack-Lehane laryngoscopic view. Operators had more than 10 years of anesthesia experience and received formal training with each device.

Intubators achieved grade I laryngoscopic views significantly more often with the McGrath video laryngoscope than with the Henderson blade (98% vs. 73%). However, the frequency of obtaining either grade I or grade II views was similar with the two devices (100% and 95%). There was one failed intubation (>3 attempt…