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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Learning Modern Laryngeal Surgery in a Dissection Laboratory
Published on: March 18, 2020
The use of an anaesthetic simulator to assess single-use laryngoscopy equipment
Keith Anderson1, Swapna Gambhir, Ronnie Glavin
1Scottish Clinical Simulation Centre, Stirling Royal Infirmary, Livilands Gate, Stirling, UK. keithanderson@doctors.net.uk
Objective:
To compare the view at simulated direct laryngoscopy obtained with a standard laryngoscope, with and without a disposable cover and a disposable laryngoscope blade.
Design:
Randomized non-blinded comparison.
Setting:
The high-fidelity human patient simulator at the Scottish Clinical Simulation Centre.
Participants:
Thirty-two anaesthetists with between 11 months and 25 years of experience.
Interventions:
A randomized comparison of ease of laryngoscopy with each laryngoscope option for simulated easy and difficult laryngoscopy.
Main Outcome Measures:
The best grade achievable at laryngoscopy (Cormack and Lehane grade) for each laryngoscope, for both easy and difficult laryngoscopy.
Results:
For the easy setting, 34% (P = 0.001) of anaesthetists graded laryngoscopy more difficult with the covered laryngoscope, and 22% (P = 0.008) with the disposable laryngoscope considered laryngoscopy more difficult than with the standard laryngoscope. For the difficult simulator setting, 69% (P < 0.001) found laryngoscopy more difficult with the covered laryngoscope and 69% (P < 0.001) with the disposable laryngoscope, when compared with the standard laryngoscope. There was no difference between the laryngoscopy grades for the covered and disposable laryngoscope for either easy (P = 0.21) or difficult (P = 0.87) simulation.
Conclusions:
Single-use equipment, as presently recommended for tonsillectomy surgery by the UK Department of Health, makes laryngoscopy more difficult for anaesthetists.
