Videolaryngoscopy for Intubation Training

Abstract

Intubation in the neonate can present unique challenges to an inexperienced clinician. The videolaryngoscope provides more easy visualization of the airway, as well as more reliable access to the airway. Since its inception, the videolaryngoscope has been modified from its original adult design for use in the pediatric patient population. Following its production, one of its main uses has been in the training of inexperienced operators, gaining widespread use in training hospitals. Before its introduction, instructors at these institutions relied solely on feedback from the trainee during intubation, rather than visual confirmation. Use of the videolaryngoscope to instruct trainees on the technique of intubation improves feedback given to the trainee as well as the first-attempt success rates, while lowering esophageal intubation rates. The available literature suggests that the use of videolaryngoscopy improves visualization of the glottis while sacrificing time to pass the endotracheal tube. Both methods (direct and videolaryngoscopy) proved to have similar times for intubation as well as intubation success rates for experienced practitioners. In the neonatal and pediatric populations specifically, another crucial use of videolaryngoscopy is its superiority in treating patients with a difficult airway. It enhances the operator’s ability to visualize the glottis in cases with no direct line of sight to the glottis.