Lighting Up the Target for Tracheal Intubation

The vocal cords are the goal posts of tracheal intubation. If you can't see them, correct placement of the tube is much less likely. But finding the cords can be difficult for trainees, or when the anatomy of the glottis is distorted by edema, infection, neoplasia, or burns. These authors tested a novel method for distinguishing the airway from the esophagus or other false passages in 40 adult patients undergoing elective surgery.

The method involves the following: A disposable device that emits infrared/near-infrared light is attached to the patient's external neck at about the level of the cricothyroid membrane. The infrared light transmitted through the tissues is translated to visible light on the screen of a video laryngoscope; the glot…