Training in placement of the left-sided double-lumen tube among non-thoracic anaesthesiologists: intubation model simulator versus computer-based digital video disc, a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of training with an airway model simulator versus digital video disc (DVD)-based instruction in placement of double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) tubes by anaesthesiologists with limited thoracic experience.

Design: Single academic centre parallel randomised controlled trial with computer-generated random allocation.

Participants: Sixty patients undergoing elective thoracic or oesophageal surgeries requiring one-lung ventilation. Twenty-seven non-thoracic anaesthesiologists were randomised to place a DLT.

Intervention: DLT placement instruction by an interactive airway simulator or computer-based DVD training. The main outcome measure was successful DLT placement.

Results: Twenty-seven anaesthesiologists were randomised to one of the two intervention groups. Sixty consecutive patients were assigned to a randomised anaesthesiologist (n = 30 in each group). Participants failed to correctly place or position the DLT tubes in 14 of 60 patients (failure rate of 23%). There was no difference in the probability of satisfactory placement or time for positioning of the DLT between the training groups; 80.5% (95% confidence interval 58.2-96.2%) of tubes were successfully placed following intubation model simulator training versus 73.6% (95% confidence interval 49.8-88.5%) in the DVD group (P = 0.378).

Conclusion: Both teaching methods had similar outcomes for placement of DLTs by anaesthesiologists with limited thoracic anaesthesia experience. Both groups performed better than individuals in our prior study. Therefore, these methods should be considered when training anaesthesiologists to successfully place DLTs.