Impact of a custom-made 3D printed ergonomic grip for direct laryngoscopy on novice intubation performance in a simulated easy and difficult airway scenario-A manikin study

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 20;13(11):e0207445. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207445. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Direct laryngoscopy using a Macintosh laryngoscope is the most widely used approach; however, this skill is not easy for novices and trainees. We evaluated the performance of novices using a laryngoscope with a three-dimensional (3D)-printed ergonomic grip on an airway manikin. Forty second-year medical students were enrolled. Endotracheal intubation was attempted using a conventional Macintosh laryngoscope with or without a 3D-printed ergonomic support grip. Primary outcomes were intubation time and overall success rate. Secondary outcomes were number of unsuccessful attempts, first-attempt success rate, airway Cormack-Lehane (CL) grade, and difficulty score. In the easy airway scenario, intubation time, and the overall success rate were similar between two group. CL grade and ease-of-use scores were significantly better for those using the ergonomic support grip (P < 0.05). In the difficult airway scenario, intubation time (49.7±37.5 vs. 35.5±29.2, P = 0.013), the first-attempt success rate (67.5% vs. 90%, P = 0.029), number of attempts (1.4±0.6 vs. 1.1±0.4, P = 0.006), CL grade (2 [2, 2] vs. 2 [1, 1], P = 0.012), and ease-of-use scores (3.5 [2, 4] vs. 4 [3, 5], P = 0.008) were significantly better for those using the ergonomic support grip. Linear mixed model analysis showed that the ergonomic support grip had a favorable effect on CL grade (P<0.001), ease-of-use scores (P<0.001), intubation time (P = 0.015), and number of intubation attempts (P = 0.029). Our custom 3D-printed ergonomic laryngoscope support grip improved several indicators related to the successful endotracheal intubation in the easy and difficult scenario simulated on an airway manikin. This grip may be useful for intubation training and practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ergonomics / methods*
  • Female
  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Intubation, Intratracheal / methods*
  • Laryngoscopes / standards*
  • Laryngoscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Manikins
  • Physicians
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional
  • Respiratory System
  • Students, Medical

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants (2014-7005 and 2015–544) from Asan Institute for Life Sciences (Seoul, South Korea) and by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the NRF funded by the Korean government, MSIP(2016M3A9E8941262) and by a grant (17172MFDS361) from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (SJ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.