Table 2.
Characteristics of the physicians and types of hypnotic medication and neuromuscular blocker
| Variable | Total n = 958 |
Direct laryngoscopy n = 465 |
Video laryngoscopy n = 493 |
p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level of operator experience*, n (%) | < 0.001 | |||
| Inexperienced | 639 (66.7) | 344 (74.0) | 295 (59.8) | |
| Experienced | 319 (33.3) | 121 (26.0) | 198 (40.2) | |
| Pre-treatment agent, n (%) | ||||
| Fentanyl | 722 (75.4) | 335 (72.0) | 387 (78.5) | 0.021 |
| Sedatives, n (%) | 877 (91.5) | 427 (91.8) | 450 (91.3) | 0.760 |
| Etomidate | 814 (85.0) | 384 (82.6) | 430 (87.2) | 0.045 |
| Ketamine | 24 (2.5) | 12 (2.6) | 12 (2.4) | 0.885 |
| Midazolam | 58 (6.1) | 49 (10.5) | 9 (1.8) | < 0.001 |
| Other† | 10 (1.0) | 4 (0.9) | 6 (1.2) | 0.754 |
| Paralytic agents, n (%) | 198 (20.7) | 125 (26.9) | 73 (14.8) | < 0.001 |
| Succinylcholine | 150 (15.7) | 106 (22.8) | 44 (8.9) | < 0.001 |
| Rocuronium | 9 (0.9) | 5 (1.1) | 4 (0.8) | 0.746 |
| Other‡ | 41 (4.3) | 15 (3.2) | 26 (5.3) | 0.118 |
Values are expressed as n (%)
IM internal medicine
* Operators were divided into two groups by the level of experience at the first intubation attempt. An experienced operator was defined as a board-certified physician or surgeon working in a critical care unit; an inexperienced operator was defined as a medical or surgical resident-in-training
†Included propofol and Ativan
‡Included atracurium and cisatracurium