Cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation with videolaryngoscopy versus Macintosh laryngoscopy in adults undergoing cervical spine surgery: a randomized controlled trial
- 1Bach Mai Hospital, Center for Anesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, Hanoi, Vietnam
- 2Hanoi Medical University, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Hanoi, Vietnam
- 3Bach Mai Hospital, Department of Orthopedic and Spine Surgery, Hanoi, Vietnam
Abstract
Background: Excessive cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation may increase neurological risk in individuals with cervical spine pathology. Videolaryngoscopy may reduce cervical motion compared with Macintosh direct laryngoscopy, but any biomechanical reduction should be distinguished from neurological protection.
Methods: Adults scheduled for elective cervical spine surgery were randomized 1:1 to intubation with a ClearVue videolaryngoscope (group V) or a Macintosh laryngoscope (group M) under manual in-line stabilization. Lateral fluoroscopy was acquired immediately before laryngoscopy (G0, neutral position) and at best glottic view (G1). The prespecified primary endpoint was directly measured cumulative C0‒C5 cervical motion. Cervical spine motion (ΔG) was also calculated at C0‒C1, C1‒C2, C2‒C3, C3‒C4 and C4‒C5. ΔG was expressed in degrees (°).
Results: Fifty-six patients were randomized and analyzed (28 per group). Mean (SD) ΔG at C0‒C5 was 19.71 (4.75) in group V and 26.32 (8.46) in group M (mean difference [M‒V], 6.61; 95% CI 2.91‒10.31; p < 0.001). At C0‒C1, ΔG was 2.68 (2.53) vs. 4.68 (2.42) (difference = 2.00; 95% CI 0.67‒3.33; p = 0.004). First-attempt success was 89.3% (25/28) vs. 78.6% (22/28) (p = 0.47). Among patients intubated successfully on the first attempt, intubation time was shorter in group V (21.75 ± 3.64 s) than group M (31.71 ± 21.25 s).
Conclusion: ClearVue videolaryngoscopy reduced fluoroscopically measured upper cervical and directly measured cumulative C0‒C5 motion compared with Macintosh direct laryngoscopy. These findings should be interpreted as biomechanical surrogate outcomes, not as evidence of neurological protection.
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BibTeX
@article{doan2026cervical,
title = {{Cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation with videolaryngoscopy versus Macintosh laryngoscopy in adults undergoing cervical spine surgery: a randomized controlled trial}},
author = {Hieu Trung Doan and Thang Toan Nguyen and Anh Thi Hong Nguyen and Du Gia Hoang},
journal = {Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.bjane.2026.844847},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjane.2026.844847},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation with videolaryngoscopy versus Macintosh laryngoscopy in adults undergoing cervical spine surgery: a randomized controlled trial
AU - Hieu Trung Doan
AU - Thang Toan Nguyen
AU - Anh Thi Hong Nguyen
AU - Du Gia Hoang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology
DO - 10.1016/j.bjane.2026.844847
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjane.2026.844847
AB - Background: Excessive cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation may increase neurological risk in individuals with cervical spine pathology. Videolaryngoscopy may reduce cervical motion compared with Macintosh direct laryngoscopy, but any biomechanical reduction should be distinguished from neurological protection. Methods: Adults scheduled for elective cervical spine surgery were randomized 1:1 to intubation with a ClearVue videolaryngoscope (group V) or a Macintosh laryngoscope (group M) under manual in-line stabilization. Lateral fluoroscopy was acquired immediately before laryngoscopy (G0, neutral position) and at best glottic view (G1). The prespecified primary endpoint was directly measured cumulative C0‒C5 cervical motion. Cervical spine motion (ΔG) was also calculated at C0‒C1, C1‒C2, C2‒C3, C3‒C4 and C4‒C5. ΔG was expressed in degrees (°). Results: Fifty-six patients were randomized and analyzed (28 per group). Mean (SD) ΔG at C0‒C5 was 19.71 (4.75) in group V and 26.32 (8.46) in group M (mean difference [M‒V], 6.61; 95% CI 2.91‒10.31; p < 0.001). At C0‒C1, ΔG was 2.68 (2.53) vs. 4.68 (2.42) (difference = 2.00; 95% CI 0.67‒3.33; p = 0.004). First-attempt success was 89.3% (25/28) vs. 78.6% (22/28) (p = 0.47). Among patients intubated successfully on the first attempt, intubation time was shorter in group V (21.75 ± 3.64 s) than group M (31.71 ± 21.25 s). Conclusion: ClearVue videolaryngoscopy reduced fluoroscopically measured upper cervical and directly measured cumulative C0‒C5 motion compared with Macintosh direct laryngoscopy. These findings should be interpreted as biomechanical surrogate outcomes, not as evidence of neurological protection.
SN - 0104-0014
SN - 2352-2291
ER -