Journal Article

Success rates of video vs. direct laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation in anesthesiology residents: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (JuniorDoc-VL-Trial)

Mohr, Stefan, Uzun, Davut D., Eicher, Simge, Weigand, Markus A., Schmitt, Felix C. F.

2025

Overview

Background Tracheal intubation is a core skill in airway management for anesthesiologists as well as for other medical professionals involved in advanced airway procedures. Traditionally, tracheal intubation in hospitals has been performed using a Macintosh blade for direct laryngoscopy (DL). However, recent literature increasingly supports the potential benefits of routine video laryngoscopy (VL). The aim of this study was to assess whether primary training in hyperangulated VL improves the first-pass success rate of tracheal intubation among first-year anesthesiology residents, compared to conventional DL training, in the operating room. Methods The JuniorDoc-VL Trial is a randomized, controlled, patient-blinded clinical trial of novice anesthesiology residents trained in DL and VL. Thirty residents will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (VL group) or the control group (DL group) with a 1:1 allocation. The first-pass-success (FPS) rates (primary endpoint) and complication rates (secondary endpoint) will be compared between groups. Discussion We hypothesize that the primary use of hyperangulated video laryngoscopy (VL) in the experimental group will increase first-pass-success rates among inexperienced residents and reduce complication rates associated with advanced airway management in a mixed patient population. This study may provide an opportunity to develop strategies that allow physicians not routinely involved in anesthesia to effectively learn and maintain their skills in tracheal intubation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT06360328). Registered on 09.04.2024.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Airway management / Anesthesia / Anesthesiologists / Anesthesiology / Anesthesiology - education / Biomedicine / Case reports / Clinical Competence / Clinical trials / Comparative analysis / Consent / Direct laryngoscopy / First-pass-success / Health Sciences / Humans / Intensive care / Internship and Residency / Intervention / Intubation / Intubation, Intratracheal - adverse effects / Intubation, Intratracheal - methods / Laryngoscopy / Laryngoscopy - adverse effects / Laryngoscopy - education / Laryngoscopy - methods / Learning curves / Learning success / Medical equipment / Medical research / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Medicine, Experimental / Methods / Patients / Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Skill of intubation / Skills / Statistics for Life Sciences / Study Protocol / Success / Trachea / Tracheal intubation / Training / Video laryngoscopy / Video-Assisted Techniques and Procedures