What we need to learn
When a patient needs a breathing machine, a breathing tube is placed through the mouth and into the windpipe. Difficulty placing the breathing tube may cause serious problems with low oxygen levels, low blood pressure, or injury to the windpipe or lungs. To place the breathing tube, doctors use a curved tool (called a “scope”) to see inside the mouth. Two types of “scope” are commonly used. One has a video screen. The other does not. Both types of “scope” are FDA approved and frequently used in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study is to determine if one type of ”scope” is better than the other.
What we are doing
This study is called “Direct Versus Video Laryngoscope (DEVICE)” and is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Our goal is to learn whether a “scope” with a video screen or a “scope” without a video screen is better for placing a breathing tube and preventing problems with oxygen levels and blood pressure. Participating in this study will not impact the quality of care patients receive. For each patient:
- When the doctors feel a “scope” with a video screen would be best for a patient, the team will use a “scope” with a video screen.
- When the doctors feel that a “scope” without a video screen would be best for a patient, the team will use a “scope” without a video screen.
- When the doctors do not have a preference, the patient will be assessed against the inclusion / exclusion criteria and when appropriate, enrolled in DEVICE. Once the patient is enrolled in DEVICE, the type of “scope” is assigned randomly, meaning that every patient will have a fair and equal chance of getting either type of “scope.”
Questions
If you have any questions or concerns about this study, you may contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Jonathan Casey. He will be glad to answer any study-related questions. Dr. Casey’s phone number is (615) 208-6139. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or concerns or complaints about the research, you may also contact the Vanderbilt Human Research Protections Program at (615)- 322-2918.
Participating Sites
Vanderbilt; Denver Health; Ochsner; University of Washington; Duke University; University of Alabama, Birmingham; Baylor, Scott &White; University of Colorado, Denver; Hennepin County Medical Center; Wake Forest; Brooke Army Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess,
Trial Update
On November 17th 2022, the investigators were notified by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board that the DEVICE trial had met the prespecified stopping criteria at the time of the single interim analysis. Enrollment in the trial was stopped and investigators and clinicians at participating sites were notified.