Hello! It would be really helpful to hear from network members whether their trusts are using reusable or disposable laryngoscope blades currently?
If using disposable blades, what barriers to switching to reusable do you see?
Thanks!!
Laryngoscope blades
Comments (6)
We almost exclusively use McGrath video laryngoscopes routinely now. These have reusable handle and just a disposable plastic cover over the blade. To me this is a good compromise as the disposable bit is minimal, without switching to fully reusable with the added discussion around IPC etc which that would entail.
Our direct laryngoscopes are fully single use which upsets me greatly!
We generally use disposable blades with reusable handle and use a reusable C-Mac for teaching or difficult airways.
I suspect we don't use C-Mac for everyone due to the cost of buying one for each theatre and time taken to clean. I agree with Annette IPC would also come up as an issue, however I believe the use of reusables can be supported with current practices.
What reusable blades are you considering? This is something I could also look at suggesting in my trust.
Thanks Tuesday and apologies for the slow response. There are a few different options on NHS supply chain - Penlon, Flexicare, Meditech and GenX Healthcare are the 4 supplier and prices range from £12 to £40 per blade. We're going to trial a few before deciding which to go with. Happy to discuss further if helpful, my email is sara.lightowlers3@nhs.net
Hi Sara, we use almost exclusively McGrath video laryngoscopes too with reusable handle and disposable blade. I think the main barriers are 1) that no-one wants to move back to direct laryngoscopy (where we could use reusable blades/handles) and 2) I don't think there are reusable blades for the video laryngoscopes we use. C-Mac have reusable blades but they are not our routine set up.
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Thanks Annette! Interesting to hear who is using video vs direct - both the departments I'm working with on this are predominantly using DL.