Thirty second drills have 6 steps that can be used to optimise your view. This may be enough to successfully ensure first pass success during intubation.
The 6 steps:
- Release cricoid and use ELM
- Optimise operator position
- Optimise patient position
- Use suction
- Insert deeply and withdraw until recognisable structures are seen
- Change laryngoscope blade/handle/type… video laryngoscopes have been very useful in this regard!
If done efficiently, these steps can be performed within a 30 second time frame. Of course this does not negate the need to maintain situational awareness and one most always prioritise be aware of patient oxygenation and hemodynamics during intubation.
