The Airway Scope: Faster, Easier, and Less Neck Movement

The Pentax Airway Scope is a new video laryngoscope that provides a non–line-of-sight view of the glottis by means of a small color screen on the scope’s handle. In contrast, direct laryngoscopy relies on alignment of the tracheal and oropharyngeal axes for visualization of the glottis. Two recent studies characterized ease of use and relative neck motion with the Airway Scope; neither study was manufacturer sponsored.

In one study, researchers measured time to intubation and subjective ease of use in a simulated difficult airway scenario. Twenty-seven experienced anesthesiologists each intubated a manikin using the Airway Scope, a Macintosh laryngoscope with bougie, and a flexible fiber-optic scope. Intubation was faster with the Airway Sco…