Does glycopyrrolate premedication facilitate tracheal intubation with a rigid video-stylet?: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: A rigid video-stylet intubation device provides safe and accurate access to the trachea by enabling visualization of the airway structures during tracheal intubation. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of glycopyrrolate premedication on tracheal intubation with a rigid video-stylet. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, 78 patients were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 39; no glycopyrrolate administration) or the glycopyrrolate group (n = 39; 0.005 mg/kg glycopyrrolate, intramuscular injection). A rigid video-stylet was used for tracheal intubation. The degree of oral secretion observed through the video-stylet monitor was assessed using the OptiScope laryngeal view and graded on a 4-point scale (1, excellent; 2, good; 3, poor; and 4, unacceptable). The time to intubation and hemodynamic variables at baseline and 1, 3, and 5 minutes after intubation were recorded. RESULTS: The OptiScope laryngeal view grades of the glycopyrrolate group (grade 1 = 16 [41.0%], 2 = 17 [43.6%], 3 = 6 [15.4%], and 4 = 0 [0%]) were significantly higher than those of the control group (grade 1 = 9 [23.1%], 2 = 11 [28.2%], 3 = 18 [46.2%], and 4 = 1 [2.6%]; P = .02). The intubation time was shorter in the glycopyrrolate group (18.5 seconds [15.0–22.0]) than the control group (22.0 seconds [17.9–26.4], P = .02). There was no significant difference in the hemodynamic variables between groups. CONCLUSION: Glycopyrrolate facilitated tracheal intubation with a rigid video-stylet by decreasing oral secretions and providing better visualization and faster intubation with hemodynamic stability. TRIAL REGISTRY: www.clinicaltrials.gov; Identifier: NCT03050242.