Body posture during simulated tracheal intubation

Abstract

SummarySeventeen experienced anaesthetists and 15 novices were filmed intubating the trachea of a training manikin. Measurements were made of the distance from manikin's chin to subject's nose and of the angles at the elbow, the shoulder and of the forearm with the horizontal. Trained subjects stood further back (trained: median 43 cm, interquartile range 41-56 cm; novices 35 cm, 26-38 cm; Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.01), with a straighter arm (trained elbow angle: 108Њ, 99-121Њ; novices': 92Њ, 88-102Њ; Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.01). Trained subjects tended to hold the laryngoscope closer to the hinge, with a pincer grip; novices were more likely to use a full grip of the handle. Trainers should consider giving novices explicit intructions on how to stand and how to hold the laryngoscope.

Indirect versus direct laryngoscopy for routine nasotracheal intubation

“…Few publications have addressed this topic [14,15]. View on an ergonomically positioned screen with a magnified glottic image resulted in better, and more comfortable posture of the intubator with indirect versus direct laryngoscopy.…”

Ergonomic task analysis of ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block: a pilot study

“…Walker [18] and Matthews et al [19] examined the postural behavior of anesthesiologists in a simulated environment. We performed this study in daily routine environments to evaluate "real world" ergonomic problems of anesthesia practitioners [20].…”

An ergonomic task analysis of spinal anaesthesia

“…Matthews et al [9] in their study 'Body posture during simulated tracheal intubation' and Walker [8] in 'Posture used by anaesthetists during laryngoscopy' analysed the postural behaviour of anaesthetists in a simulated environment. In these two identical simulated studies, authors linked the bad posture with immediate outcome of the procedure and its aesthetic appreciation.…”

“…Because of painful limited mobility, these patients cannot respond to anaesthetists' demands to compensate deficiencies in the optimal posture and position required for successful advancement of a needle close to their spinal cord [7]. Only a few studies [8,9] have been performed to evaluate postural behaviour of anaesthetists and are limited to the procedure 'laryngoscopy' in a simulated environment. Some methodologies [10,11] have also been described to assess anaesthetists' work habits.…”