McGrath X-blade study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  McGrath X-blade study

• IRAS ID

  350850

• Contact name

  Patrick Ward

• Contact email

  patrick.ward@nhs.scot

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  NCT07600502

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  When patients have general anaesthesia, they need help with their breathing (airway management) to ensure that they receive enough oxygen and protect their airway from substances entering the lungs.

  This often takes the form of tracheal intubation (placing a tube into the windpipe) and the Anaesthetist uses a tool called a laryngoscope to do this.
  
  One tool commonly used by the Anaesthetist is the McGrath(video) laryngoscope. This device has a small camera and screen to help guide placement of the tube. The McGrath blade comes in two shapes - one shaped in a traditional way, and another newer design, shaped in a more curved (hyperangulated) way which better reflects the anatomy of most patients.

  This hyperangulated version (the McGrath X- blade) is very useful in patients in whom the Anaesthetist thinks tracheal intubation might be more difficult. Evidence and guidelines exist to support its use in this context.

  Many Anaesthetists already prefer to use it even when they don’t think there will be difficulty, but there are limited, if any, studies evaluating its use in this context. In this study we want to see if the McGrath X-blade is useful in all patients even when the Anaesthetist doesn’t expect there will be difficulty. In this study Anaesthetists already expert in using the McGrath X-blade, will use it as their first-choice tool for all patients requiring tracheal intubation.

  Research questions:

  1. Can hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy be used primarily and successfully for tracheal intubation in all patients?

  2.In which patient groups is it not suitable?

  Eligibility:

  All consenting adult patients undergoing surgical procedures requiring tracheal intubation as part of their anaesthetic care for elective or emergency procedures.

  This study is being undertaken at St. John’s Hospital, Livingston, Scotland.

  Study population size: 500 patients.

• REC name

  South East Scotland REC 02

• REC reference

  25/SS/0092

• Date of REC Opinion

  9 Feb 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion