DR. MANOJ ADITYA B,DR. MRUNALINI M N,DR. RAMYAA DHANASEKARAN
DOI: https://doi.org/Background:
Unassisted endotracheal intubation in emergency or resource-limited environments places immense cognitive and operational demands on anesthesiologists, often causing delays or errors due to disorganized equipment and drug arrangements.
Objective:
To design, develop, and evaluate the Situational Airway Drug & Equipment Tray (SADET) — a low-cost, 3D-printed device to improve ergonomic layout, speed, and safety during unassisted intubation.
Study Design:
Prospective, simulation-based crossover usability study with iterative design and evaluation.
Sample Size:
Fifteen qualified anesthesiologists participated. Each performed two runs with the standard setup and two with SADET (30 runs per setup).
Methods:
- Design Phase: Needs assessment (interviews with >10 anesthesiologists) to identify workflow barriers, design modelling and 3D printing.
- Evaluation Phase: Participants completed two simulated unassisted intubation runs with each setup, using standardized airway kits and drug vials.
- Metrics Recorded: Setup time, intubation time, drug/equipment retrieval time, drug identification errors, and satisfaction ratings.
Results:
SADET improved setup time by 64%, reduced drug/equipment retrieval times by 54%, shortened total intubation time by 39%, and eliminated all drug identification errors versus baseline. Satisfaction scores increased from 2.8/5 to 4.7/5.
Conclusion:
SADET significantly improved efficiency, safety, and workflow in simulated unassisted intubations. It is affordable, reproducible, and adaptable for various clinical environments.
