Prospective study of manikin-only versus manikin and human subject endotracheal intubation training of paramedics

To determine the effect of manikin-only training on field success of endotracheal intubation by paramedics. Prospective evaluation of individual field endotracheal intubation success rates for paramedics after they participated in a manikin-only or a manikin-plus-cadaver training program. Paramedics responding to emergency calls involving adult medical or trauma victims. All participants were trained using a controlled manikin training program; then, half were randomly selected for additional instruction using fresh human cadavers. Individuals trained using only the manikin program had mean ± SD individual success rates of 82 ± 32%, and individuals who received additional cadaver training had mean individual success rates of 83 ± 31%. Overall success rates for the two groups were 86% for the manikin-only group and 85% for the manikin-plus-cadaver-trained group. The sample size was not adequate to allow rejection of the null hypothesis. Paramedics trained in endotracheal intubation using a systematic manikin-only teaching program can attain acceptable individual success rates in the actual field setting.