TRACHEAL INTUBATION IN A MANNEQUIN - COMPARISON OF SUPINE AND LEFT LATERAL POSITIONS

Tracheal intubation in the left lateral position may be necessary in s ome circumstances. Using a manikin we demonstrated that anaesthetic tr ainees found tracheal intubation in the left lateral position was more difficult and took longer than in the supine position. However, the t ime to successful tracheal intubation decreased with practice, indicat ing the presence of a learning curve. We suggest that tracheal intubat ion in the left lateral position should become part of training in the management of the difficult airway.