First-Attempt Endotracheal Intubation Success Rate Using A Telescoping Steel Bougie

• Main Author: Evan D. Schmitz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2021-01-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: bougie; airod; intubation; icu; success rate; difficult airway; complications; time; first-pass; covd-19
• Online Access: https://www.swjpcc.com/critical-care/2021/1/25/first-attempt-endotracheal-intubation-success-rate-using-a-t.html

Background There has been a renewed interest in using the plastic intubation bougie to facilitate first-attempt endotracheal intubation success. The sterile single-use telescopic steel bougie (AIROD) was invented to overcome the limitations of the plastic bougie which is easily deformed during storage. Methods This is a retrospective study involving critically ill patients who were intubated with the AIROD in the intensive care unit at a single institution. The purpose of this case series is to compare the success rate of the AIROD to the generally accepted success rate for the traditional plastic bougie of 96%. Results A total of 54 patients were enrolled at a single ICU over a 10 months period. All patients were critically ill with 76% having a difficult airway, Cormack-Lehane grade view 2 or greater in 60%, and ARDS secondary to COVID-19 in 54%. The primary outcome of first-attempt intubation success in critically ill patients intubated in the ICU with the AIROD was 97% with a 95% confidence interval of 0.89 to 0.99. The average time for intubation of all airway classifications was 15 seconds. Conclusion The AIROD first-attempt intubation success rate was found to be similar to the rate for the traditional plastic bougie.