Success Rate of Endotracheal Intubation Using Inline Stabilization with and without Cervical Hard Collar; a Comparative Study

ntroduction:Application of a rigid cervical collar may interfere with the laryngeal view, and potentially leadto failed endotracheal intubation (ETI). This study aimed to compare intubation success rates while performinginline stabilization with and without cervical hard collar.

This randomized prospective comparativestudy included paramedics working in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, MahidolUniversity, Bangkok, Thailand to compare the success rates of endotracheal intubation on manikin using inlinestabilization with and without cervical hard collar.

125 participants were evaluated; 63 in the rigid cervi-cal collar and 62 in the non-cervical hard collar group. The rate of successful intubation was significantly higherusing manual stabilization without cervical hard collar (61 (96.8%) vs. 55 (88.7%); p=0.048). The time requiredto successfully perform intubation was also shorter, with manual stabilization only (14.1±20.9 vs. 18.9±29.0; p= 0.081).

It seems that, removal of the rigid cervical collar during ETI in patients with suspectedtraumatic spine injury could increase the intubation success rate.