Should there be a change in the teaching of airway management in the medical school curriculum?

Objective: To evaluate the use of the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA), the oesophageal-tracheal combitube (ETC) and the tracheal tube (TT) by medical students, with a view to recommend changes to the medical school curriculum.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of 93 third-year medical students were taught the use of LMA, ETC and TT on manikins and had their skills tested at 0 and 6 months.

Results: Overall, LMA insertion was the fastest technique with a mean time taken for successful insertion of 32.