A Randomised Controlled Trial to Compare McGrath Videolaryngoscope Against Direct Laryngoscope for Endotracheal Intubation When Powered Air Purifying Respirator is Worn During the Current Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Detailed Summary

Various guidelines for endotracheal intubation (insertion of breathing tube for mechanical ventilation) of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients recommend the use of videolaryngoscope (medical device used for intubation that has a camera to visualize the vocal cords between which the breathing tube will pass) over direct laryngoscope (conventionally-used medical device for intubation that depends on anesthetist's direct visualization of vocal cords). The reasons for this recommendation are to maximize the distance between the medical personnel and the patient's face during intubation to decrease the risk of viral particles transmission and to improve intubation success. For patients infected with COVID-19, Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is recommended as an alternative to N95 masks during aerosol-generating procedures such as intubation because N95 masks may not fully protect medical personnel from viral transmission during intubation. There is no evidence to suggest that videolaryngoscope (VL) is superior to direct laryngoscope (DL) for intubation when PAPR is donned. The purpose of this study is to determine if McGrath VL is superior to DL for intubation when the anesthetist is wearing a PAPR. The investigators' hypothesis is that McGrath VL will decrease the time to intubation by 20 seconds and more compared to DL when PAPR is donned. The investigators also hope to learn if there is any difference in the difficulties encountered between the use of VL and DL.

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