Combined Use of Glidescope With Fiber Optic Broncscopy Versus Fiber Optic Alone in Difficult Intubation

Overview

In spite of the development of a lot of airway devices in the past 2 decades, tracheal intubation problems were the most common primary airway problems. The GlideScope® Video Laryngoscope (Verathon, Bothell, WA) is a video laryngoscopy system with a two-segment blade, the distal portion of which houses a charge-coupled device that contains a micro-video camera that transmits images to a 7-inch video liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. The GlideScope® can be used for routine intubation but is also commonly used as an alternative device for difficult or failed airways. It is particularly useful in cases where cervical motion or mouth opening is limited, preventing creation of a "straight line" of sight from the operator to the glottis . GlideScope improves the laryngeal view as one of its advantages due to the blade angle of 60° which is designed to improve the glottic view without the need of alignment of the oral, pharyngeal, and tracheal axes and also without adding additional lifting force. Fibreoptic intubation with a flexible bronchoscope is an important airway management skill in which anaesthesiologists should be proficient. Unfortunately, clinical experience shows that even with reasonable experience and practice, fibreoptic intubation can be challenging. It requires a high degree of manual dexterity, an ability to manoeuvre quickly under stressful clinical situations, and rigorous training and practice to maintain a high level of skill. Thus, whereas fibreoptic intubatThus, whereas fibreoptic intubation can be used rapidly for intubation, video laryngoscopy may be an effective alternative, especially in patients with an anticipated difficult airway. However, it remains unclear whether video-assisted airway management using the GlideScope provides significant advantages over flexible bronchoscopy in patients with potentially difficult airways , Video laryngoscopy is increasingly used for difficult airway management in anaesthesia, intensive care units and emergency departments. Recently, video laryngoscopy has been incorporated into various difficult airway management algorithms, being recommended as one of the initial steps in the management of difficult airways .