Learning fibreoptic intubation: use of simulators v. traditional teaching

This study compared a graduated training programme with that of a traditional teaching method to facilitate the learning of the technique of fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation. Thirty-two anaesthesia trainees were randomly assigned to two groups. The graduated programme involved: practice on a bronchoscopy teaching model; exposure of the epiglottis and vocal cords in patients recovering from general anaesthesia; performance of fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation in awake sedated patients. The traditional programme involved: demonstration (on a patient) of one fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation by the instructor; performance of fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation (by the trainee) in awake sedated patients. Nasotracheal intubation was accomplished significantly more often by the trainees in the graduated programme (86 out of 96 (89.6%) v. 64 out of 96 (66.5%) (P less than 0.01). The results demonstrate that trainees who undergo a graduated training programme using simulators are initially more successful at awake fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation than those who have learned in the traditional manner, and that the conditions of the investigation were acceptable to the trainees and patients.