Enhanced recovery after surgery: comes out to the Sun.

ERAS programs aim to reduce the length of hospital stays and lower costs, and minimize the risk of postoperative complications and readmissions while enhancing the overall patient experience. BMC Anesthesiology has initiated a new collection on ERAS, urging investigators to conduct large-scale, high-quality studies that address the existing knowledge gap.

Impact of Lower Tidal Volumes During One-Lung Ventilation: A 2022 Update of the Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the influence of lower tidal volume (4-7 mL/kg) compared with higher tidal volume (8-15 mL/kg) during one-lung ventilation (OLV) on gas exchange and postoperative clinical outcome. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomized trials. SETTING: Thoracic surgery. PARTICIPANTS: Patients receiving OLV. INTERVENTIONS: Lower tidal volume during OLV. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcome was PaO2-to-the oxygen fraction (PaO2/FIO2) ratio at the end of the surgery, after the reinstitution of two-lung ventilation. Secondary endpoints included perioperative changes in PaO2/FIO2 ratio and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) tension, airway pressure, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, arrhythmia, and length of hospital stay. Seventeen randomized controlled trials (1,463 patients) were selected. Overall analysis showed that the use of low tidal volume during OLV was associated with a significantly higher PaO2/FIO2 ratio 15 minutes after the start of OLV and at the end of surgery (mean difference 33.7 mmHg [p = 0.02] and mean difference 18.59 mmHg [p < 0.001], respectively). The low tidal volume also was associated with higher PaCO2 values 15 minutes and 60 minutes after the start of OLV and with lower airway pressure, which was maintained during two-lung ventilation after surgery. Moreover, the application of lower tidal volume was associated with fewer postoperative pulmonary complications (odds ratio 0.50; p < 0.001) and arrhythmias (odds ratio 0.58; p = 0.009), with no difference in length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The use of lower tidal volume, a component of protective OLV, increases the PaO2/FIO2 ratio, reduces the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, and should be considered strongly in daily practice.

Effects of norepinephrine infusion during cardiopulmonary bypass on perioperative changes in lactic acid level (Norcal).

INTRODUCTION: Hyperlactatemia, a problem reported in up to 30% of cardiac surgery patients, results from excessive production of or decreased clearance of lactate. It is typically a symptom of tissue hypoperfusion and may be associated with the prevalence of postoperative acute mesenteric ischemia and renal failure, or prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and increased 30-day mortality. METHODS AND MEASUREMENTS: Eighty cardiac surgery patients using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomly assigned into either a placebo (n = 39) or norepinephrine 0.05-0.2 µg/kg/min (n = 41) as well as norepinephrine boluses during CPB to maintain mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) at 65 to 80 mm Hg. Patient assignments were done after receiving ethical approval to proceed. The primary result was the perioperative changes in lactic acid level. Secondary findings were also recorded, including hemodynamic variables, the incidence of vasoplegia, intraoperative hypotension, myocardial ischemia, the need for vasopressor support, postoperative complications, and mortality. RESULTS: The peak levels and perioperative changes in blood lactate during the first 24 postoperative hours, the number of patients who experienced early hyperlactatemia on admission to the ICU (Placebo: 46.2%, Norepinephrine: 51.2%, p = .650), vasoplegia, hemodynamic changes, incidences of intraoperative hypotension, myocardial ischemia, postoperative complications, and mortality rates were similar in the two groups. Patients in the norepinephrine group received lower intraoperative rescue norepinephrine boluses to maintain the target MAP (p = .039) and had higher MAP values during the CPB and intraoperative blood loss [mean difference [95% confidence interval]; 177 [20.9-334.3] ml, p = .027]. CONCLUSION: norepinephrine and placebo infusions during the CPB with the maintenance of MAP from 65 to 80 mmHg had comparative effects on the changes in blood lactate and incidence of vasoplegia after cardiac surgery. Norepinephrine infusion maintained higher MAP values during the CPB.

Volatile Anesthetics versus Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Volatile (inhaled) anesthetic agents have cardioprotective effects, which might improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: We conducted a pragmatic, multicenter, single-blind, controlled trial at 36 centers in 13 countries. Patients scheduled to undergo elective CABG were randomly assigned to an intraoperative anesthetic regimen that included a volatile anesthetic (desflurane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane) or to total intravenous anesthesia. The primary outcome was death from any cause at 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 5400 patients were randomly assigned: 2709 to the volatile anesthetics group and 2691 to the total intravenous anesthesia group. On-pump CABG was performed in 64% of patients, with a mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass of 79 minutes. The two groups were similar with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline, the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, and the number of grafts. At the time of the second interim analysis, the data and safety monitoring board advised that the trial should be stopped for futility. No significant difference between the groups with respect to deaths from any cause was seen at 1 year (2.8% in the volatile anesthetics group and 3.0% in the total intravenous anesthesia group; relative risk, 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 1.29; P = 0.71), with data available for 5353 patients (99.1%), or at 30 days (1.4% and 1.3%, respectively; relative risk, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.70 to 1.76), with data available for 5398 patients (99.9%). There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the secondary outcomes or in the incidence of prespecified adverse events, including myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing elective CABG, anesthesia with a volatile agent did not result in significantly fewer deaths at 1 year than total intravenous anesthesia. (Funded by the Italian Ministry of Health; MYRIAD ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02105610.).

Challenges in the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Fellowship Program Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: An Electronic Survey on Potential Solutions.

OBJECTIVE: The authors explored the current practice of fellowship training in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia and surveyed the acceptability of potential solutions to mitigate the interrupted fellowship training during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DESIGN: A prospective electronic questionnaire-based survey. SETTING: The survey was initiated by the Education Committee of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC). PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised EACTAIC fellows, EACTAIC, and non-EACTAIC subscribers to the EACTAIC newsletter and EACTAIC followers on different social media platforms. INTERVENTIONS: After obtaining the consent of participants, the authors assessed the perioperative management of COVID-19 patients, infrastructural aspects of the workplace, local routines for preoperative testing, the perceived availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the impact of COVID-19 on fellowship training. In addition, participants rated suggested solutions by the investigators to cope with the interruption of fellowship training, using a traffic light signal scale. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The authors collected 193 responses from 54 countries. Of the respondents, 82.4% reported cancelling or postponing elective cases during the first wave, 89.7% had provided care for COVID-19 patients, 75.1% reported staff in their center being reassigned to work in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 45% perceived a shortage of PPE at their centers. Most respondents reported the termination of local educational activities (79.6%) and fellowship assessments (51.5%) because of the pandemic (although 84% of them reported having time to participate in online teaching), and 83% reported a definitive psychological impact. More than 90% of the respondents chose green and/or yellow traffic lights to rate the importance of the suggested solutions to cope with the interrupted fellowship training during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of elective cases, the deployment of anesthesiologists to ICUs, the involvement of anesthesiologists in perioperative care for COVID-19 patients, and the interruption of educational activities and trainees' assessments. There is some consensus on the suggested solutions for mitigation of the interruption in fellowship training.

Effect of Volatile Anesthetics on Myocardial Infarction After Coronary Artery Surgery: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of volatile anesthetics on the rates of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac death after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). DESIGN: A post hoc analysis of a randomized trial. SETTING: Cardiac surgical operating rooms. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing elective, isolated CABG. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive a volatile anesthetic (desflurane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane) or total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). The primary outcome was hemodynamically relevant MI (MI requiring high-dose inotropic support or prolonged intensive care unit stay) occurring within 48 hours from surgery. The secondary outcome was 1-year death due to cardiac causes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 5,400 patients were enrolled between April 2014 and September 2017 (2,709 patients randomized to the volatile anesthetics group and 2,691 to TIVA). The mean age was 62 ± 8.4 years, and the median baseline ejection fraction was 57% (50-67), without differences between the 2 groups. Patients in the volatile group had a lower incidence of MI with hemodynamic complications both in the per-protocol (14 of 2,530 [0.6%] v 27 of 2,501 [1.1%] in the TIVA group; p = 0.038) and as-treated analyses (16 of 2,708 [0.6%] v 29 of 2,617 [1.1%] in the TIVA group; p = 0.039), but not in the intention-to-treat analysis (17 of 2,663 [0.6%] v 28 of 2,667 [1.0%] in the TIVA group; p = 0.10). Overall, deaths due to cardiac causes were lower in the volatile group (23 of 2,685 [0.9%] v 40 of 2,668 [1.5%] than in the TIVA group; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: An anesthetic regimen, including volatile agents, may be associated with a lower rate of postoperative MI with hemodynamic complication in patients undergoing CABG. Furthermore, it may reduce long-term cardiac mortality.

European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship Curriculum: First Edition.

Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers.

A Comparison of Different Remifentanil Effect-Site Concentrations to Allow for Early Extubation After Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Assess different remifentanil effect-site concentrations (Ce) for readiness for extubation time after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled study. DESIGN: Single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: After ethical approval, patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with target-controlled propofol infusion were randomly assigned to receive remifentanil effect-site concentrations (Ce) of 1, 2, or 3 ng/mL (n = 25, 25, and 23, respectively). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint was readiness for extubation. Secondary outcomes were also recorded, including the cumulative doses and number of changes of propofol and remifentanil, hemodynamic variables, time to spontaneous eye opening and breathing, actual extubation, incidences of light anesthesia and myocardial ischemia, need for vasopressors and inotropes, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays. There was no difference in the time to readiness for extubation in any of the groups (0.1 ng/mL: 11.5 min (5-37); 0.2 ng/mL: 22 min (10-35); and 0.3 ng/mL: 21 min (10-49), p < 0.532); however, there was a significant difference among the 3 groups regarding the cumulative remifentanil doses (p < 0.001). Time to spontaneous eye opening and breathing, actual extubation, use of vasopressors and inotropes, incidences of light anesthesia and myocardial ischemia, and length of ICU and hospital stay were similar for all groups. Forty-six of the 73 patients were extubated on-table. CONCLUSION: Remifentanil Ce 1, 2, and 3 ng/mL produced comparative effects on time to extubation and hemodynamic responses to cardiac surgery. The 3 Ce resulted in immediate on-table extubation in 50% of patients.

European Association of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Fellowship Program: The Graduates' Experience.

OBJECTIVES: In 2009, the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) established a fellowship program to train highly qualified specialists in the field of cardiac anesthesia. For the further development of the program, a survey among graduates was distributed to get information about the individual motivation and career perspectives of fellows. DESIGN: Online survey among graduates of the EACTAIC cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia (CTVA) fellowship program. SETTING: Twenty-four-item online survey after personal invitation from the EACTAIC office PARTICIPANTS: Forty-nine graduates. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The survey had a response rate of 77%. On average, graduates joined the EACTAIC fellowship program four years after completing their residency program. Participants felt well-prepared by the program regarding their clinical and nonclinical skills. The majority participated in research activities during the fellowship and continued to work in the field of CTVA. Ninety-two percent of the respondents found a job opportunity within a reasonable time after completing the training. CONCLUSIONS: Among the respondents, the survey showed a high satisfactory rate with the received training and good job opportunities after completing the fellowship. Further research should investigate the question of beneficial effects on research activities after completing the fellowship.

Multicenter International Survey on Cardiopulmonary Bypass Perfusion Practices in Adult Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To assess current practice in adult cardiac surgery during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) across European and non-European countries. DESIGN: International, multicenter, web-based survey including 28 multiple choice questions addressing hemodynamic and tissue oxygenation parameters, organ protection measures, and the monitoring and usage of anesthetic drugs as part of the anesthetic and perfusion practice during CPB. SETTING: Online survey endorsed by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists. PARTICIPANTS: Representatives of anesthesiology departments in European and non-European adult cardiac surgical centers. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The survey was distributed via e-mail to European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists members (n = 797) and kept open for 1 month. The response rate was 34% (n = 271). After exclusion of responses from the same centers and of incomplete answers, data from 202 cardiac centers in 56 countries, of which 67% of centers were university hospitals, were analyzed. Optimization of pump flows and tissue oxygenation parameters during CPB were applied by the majority of centers, with target flow rates of >2.2 L/min/m2 in 93% (n = 187) of centers and mean arterial blood pressures between 51 and 90 mmHg in 85% (n = 172). Hemoglobin transfusion triggers were either individualized or between 7 and 8 g/dL in 92% (n = 186) of centers. Mixed venous oxyhemoglobin saturations were assessed routinely in 59% (n = 120) and lactate in 88% (n = 178) of cardiac surgery units. Noninvasive cerebral saturation monitoring was used in a subgroup of patients or routinely in 84% (n = 169) of sites, and depth-of-anesthesia monitoring was used routinely in 53% (n = 106). Transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheters were used routinely or in subgroups of patients in 97% (n = 195) and 71% (n = 153) of centers, respectively. The preferred site for temperature monitoring was the nasopharynx in 66% (n = 134) of centers. Anesthetic techniques were variable, with 26% of centers (n = 52) using low-tidal-volume ventilation and 28% (n = 57) using continuous positive airway pressure during CPB. Volatile agents were used routinely as the only agent during CPB in 36% sites (n = 73) and propofol in 47% (n = 95). Other drugs routinely administered included magnesium in 45% (n = 91), steroids in 18% (n = 37), tranexamic acid in 88% (n = 177), and aprotinin in 15% (n = 30) of the centers. CONCLUSION: This international CPB survey revealed that techniques for optimization of pump flow and oxygenation during CPB usually were applied. Furthermore, cerebral and hemodynamic monitoring devices were frequently used during CPB. However, most CPB-related anesthetic techniques and medications were more variable. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to assess anesthetic techniques and organ protection.

Thoracic Anesthesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: 2021 Updated Recommendations by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) Thoracic Subspecialty Committee.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has radically changed the landscape of normal surgical practice. Lifesaving cancer surgery, however, remains a clinical priority, and there is an increasing need to fully define the optimal oncologic management of patients with varying stages of lung cancer, allowing prioritization of which thoracic procedures should be performed in the current era. Healthcare providers and managers should not ignore the risk of a bimodal peak of mortality in patients with lung cancer; an imminent spike due to mortality from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and a secondary peak reflecting an excess of cancer-related mortality among patients whose treatments were deemed less urgent, delayed, or cancelled. The European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Thoracic Anesthesia Subspecialty group has considered these challenges and developed an updated set of expert recommendations concerning the infectious period, timing of surgery, vaccination, preoperative screening and evaluation, airway management, and ventilation of thoracic surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interruption of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) Fellowship Program During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Consequences and Solutions.

This article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the EACTA fellowship program. The authors present three points that in their view are important and give cause for concern because they could make it difficult or impossible to achieve the original goals of the fellowship program. Corresponding points are discussed and possible solutions are presented. An implementation in the fellowship curriculum is planned.

Perspectives on the Fellowship Training in Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Anesthesia and Critical Care in Europe From Program Directors and Educational Leads Around Europe.

This article reviews fellowship training in adult cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia and critical care from the perspective of European program initiators and educational leaders in these subspecialties together with current training fellows. Currently, the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) network has 20 certified fellowship positions each year in 10 hosting centers within 7 European countries, with 2 positions outside Europe (São Paulo, Brazil). Since 2009, 42 fellows have completed the fellowship training. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the rationale, requirements, and contributions of the fellows, in the context of the developmental progression of the EACTA fellowship in adult cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia and critical care from inception to present. A summary of the program structure, accreditation of host centers, requirements to join the program, teaching and assessment tools, certification, and training requirements in transesophageal electrocardiography is outlined. In addition, a description of the current state of EACTA fellowships across Europe, and a perspective for future steps and challenges to the educational program, is provided.

Thoracic Anesthesia of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection: Preliminary Recommendations for Airway Management by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology Thoracic Subspecialty Committee.

The novel coronavirus has caused a pandemic around the world. Management of patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have to undergo thoracic surgery will be a challenge for the anesthesiologists. The thoracic subspecialty committee of European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) has conducted a survey of opinion in order to create recommendations for the anesthetic approach to these challenging patients. It should be emphasized that both the management of the infected patient with COVID-19 and the self-protection of the anesthesia team constitute a complicated challenge. The text focuses therefore on both important topics.

European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Fellowship Curriculum: First Edition.

This special article summarizes the design and certification process of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (CTVA) Fellowship Program. The CTVA fellowship training includes a two-year curriculum at an EACTA-accredited educational facility. Before fellows are accepted into the program, they must meet a number of requirements, including evidence of a valid license to practice medicine, a specialist degree examination in anesthesiology, and appropriate language skills as required in the host centers. The CVTA Fellowship Program has 2 sequential and complementary levels of training-both with a modular structure that allows for individual planning and also takes into account the differing national healthcare needs and requirements of the 36 countries represented in EACTA. The basic training period focuses on the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery and related procedures. The advanced training period is intended to deepen and to extend the clinical and nontechnical skills that fellows have acquired during the basic training. The goal of the EACTA fellowship is to produce highly trained and competent perioperative physicians who are able to care for patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia.

Multicenter International Survey on the Clinical Practice of Ultra-Fast-Track Anesthesia with On-Table Extubation in Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe global practices for on-table extubation (OTE) in pediatric cardiac anesthesia in European and non-European countries. DESIGN: Multiple-choice, web-based survey with 34 questions addressing organizational data, existence of OTE programs, inclusion and exclusion criteria for OTE, and intraoperative and immediate postoperative management. SETTING: Online survey endorsed by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists. PARTICIPANTS: Anesthesiologists departments in European and non-European pediatric cardiac surgical centers. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The survey was sent to 144 pediatric cardiac surgical centers in 29 countries as a web-based questionnaire. Addressees were pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists who were members of European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists or were known to the authors. The response rate was 63%. Fifty percent of the respondents were practicing in university hospitals. The survey demonstrated that 76% of the respondents practiced OTE, with 50% of the pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists regularly performing OTE in different proportions, ranging from 1 to 51% of on-pump pediatric cardiac surgeries. Seventy-seven percent of respondents made their decision to perform OTE on an individual case-by-case basis. Seventy-eight percent of the congenital cardiac lesions deemed eligible for OTE fell into Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 categories 1 and 2. In patients for whom OTE was planned, anesthesia primarily was maintained using a combined inhalational and intravenous technique. The main reasons not to perform OTE were that it was deemed to provide no major advantage (45%), to be dangerous (9%), or to decrease operating room efficiency by increasing operating room turnover time (36%). CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrated that the majority of the approached pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists practice OTE regularly in pediatric cardiac surgery. Frequency of OTE and inclusion criteria vary widely. The observations made in this survey should prompt appropriately powered, randomized controlled clinical trials to examine the effect of OTE on various effectiveness and safety outcomes.

A Comparison of 3 Videolaryngoscopes for Double-Lumen Tube Intubation in Humans by Users With Mixed Experience: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that laryngoscopy using the Airtraq (Prodol Limited, Viscaya, Spain) or King Vision laryngoscope (KVL) (Ambu A/S, Ballerup, Denmark) would result in a shorter time for successful double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) intubation by users with mixed experience than the time required using the Macintosh or GlideScope (Verathon Inc., Bothell, WA) laryngoscopes. DESIGN: A randomized, prospective, blind study. SETTING: A single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 133 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated into the following 4 groups of DLTs: Macintosh (n = 32), GlideScope (n = 34), Airtraq (n = 35), or KVL (n = 32). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The following data were recorded: time required for achieving successful DLT intubation; glottis visualization; optimization maneuvers; first-pass success rate; intubation difficulty; failure to intubate, defined as an attempt taking >150 seconds to perform or if peripheral oxygen saturation <92% was noted; and postoperative sore throat and hoarseness were recorded. Compared with GlideScope, the Airtraq resulted in shorter times for achieving successful DLT intubation (median times: 21 s [95% confidence interval 23.9-70.8 s] v 57.5 s [95% confidence interval 46.2-89.1 s], respectively; p = 0.021); a lower score for difficult intubations (p = 0.023); and fewer optimization maneuvers. The 4 laryngoscopes were associated with comparable glottis visualization; first-pass success rate (100%, 100%, 94.4%, and 100%, respectively; p = 0.522); incidence of oropharyngeal trauma; postoperative sore throat; and hoarseness of voice. There were 2 (5.7%) endobronchial intubation failures using the Airtraq due to the inability to advance the DLT through the glottis opening. The experience of the anesthesiologists in using the 4 devices had a statistically significant negative correlation with the time to confirmation of endobronchial intubation (Spearman r -0.392; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: When used by operators with mixed experience, the channeled Airtraq required less time for DLT intubation and was easier to use than the GlideScope, although failures did occur with the Airtraq, whereas they did not occur with the other systems.