The Cardiff paediatric laryngoscope blade: a comparison with the Miller size 1 and Macintosh size 2 laryngoscope blades

The Cardiff paediatric laryngoscope blade is a single blade that has been designed for use in children from birth to adolescence. This open, randomised, crossover study compared the Cardiff blade with the straight, size 1, Miller laryngoscope blade in 39 infants under 1 years of age and the curved, size 2, Macintosh blade in 39 children aged 1-16 years. The same laryngoscopic view was obtained with the Cardiff and Miller blades in 26 patients; the view was better with the Cardiff blade in seven patients and better with the Miller blade in six (median (IQR [range]) grade of laryngoscopy 1 (1-2 [1-3]) vs. 1 (1-2 [1-3]), respectively; p = 0.405). The Cardiff blade was faster at gaining a view than the Miller blade (mean (SD) time 8.5 (2.9) s vs. 10.2 (3.5) s, respectively; 95% CI for difference -2.8 to -0.4; p = 0.009). The Cardiff and Macintosh blades produced the same view in 32 patients; the view was better with the Cardiff blade in seven patients (median (IQR [range]) grade of laryngoscopy 1 (1-1 [1-3]) vs. 1 (1-2 [1-3]), respectively; p = 0.008). There was no difference in time to gain these views: mean (SD) 8.7 (3.0) s vs. 9.3 (2.7) s, respectively (95% CI for difference -1.58 to 0.40; p = 0.237). The Cardiff paediatric laryngoscope blade compares favourably with these two established laryngoscope blades in children.