From blind inspection to direct vision: progress in the application of video laryngoscopy in airway management

Video laryngoscope, as a new type of tracheal intubation equipment, its biggest feature is that it can provide indirect vision of the upper respiratory tract. Through the built-in camera and recording device, doctors can clearly observe the patient’s laryngeal structure, including vocal cords, epiglottis, etc., so as to accurately judge the patency of the airway and the size of the throat cavity. This provides an important basis for doctors to formulate appropriate airway management plans.

Compared with traditional direct laryngoscopy, video laryngoscopy has shown significant advantages in difficult airway management. Video laryngoscope performs better in improving the Cormack-Lehane classification of glottis exposure, which means that doctors can see the patient’s laryngeal structure more clearly, thereby reducing the difficulty of intubation. In addition, video laryngoscope can also achieve the same or higher success rate of tracheal intubation in a shorter period of time, greatly improving the efficiency of airway management.

However, despite its many advantages in airway management, videolaryngoscopy is not entirely without disadvantages. For example, when using a video laryngoscope for endotracheal intubation, there are sometimes failures to insert and advance the endotracheal tube. This may have to do with the physician’s proficiency with the device, the patient’s specific condition, and the performance of the device itself. Therefore, when doctors use video laryngoscopes, they need to fully understand its characteristics and operating techniques to ensure that it can achieve maximum effectiveness.

Another significant advantage of video laryngoscopy is its ability to provide the physician with real-time feedback on the intubation process. In traditional laryngoscope intubation, doctors mainly rely on their own experience and feel to perform the operation, which often limits the success rate of intubation. The video laryngoscope can display the progress of intubation in real time, allowing doctors to adjust the position and direction of intubation in a timely manner, thereby improving the success rate of intubation and reducing the risk of airway damage.

In addition, the design of video laryngoscopes is often similar to that of traditional direct laryngoscopes, allowing physicians who are already proficient in direct laryngoscopy to successfully use video laryngoscopes without the need for special training. This easy-to-use feature makes video laryngoscopes widely used in airway management and provides doctors with more choices.

Currently, there are a variety of video laryngoscopes on the market with different specifications, user interfaces, and geometries. These devices have their own characteristics in terms of performance and function. Doctors can choose the most suitable video laryngoscope based on the patient’s specific conditions and their own operating habits. At the same time, with the continuous development of technology, we can foresee that future video laryngoscopes will be more intelligent and user-friendly, bringing more convenience and possibilities to airway management.