Disposable Laryngoscope Blades and Reusable Handles: What Combination Maximizes Light Intensity?

Disposable laryngoscope blades increasingly are used because of infection concerns and convenience. Clinical studies of light intensity through disposable blades have offered conflicting results and are difficult to compare because they used different methods to measure light output.

Researchers measured light delivered by nine models of disposable adult-sized plastic and metal laryngoscope blades paired with each of three standard, reusable laryngoscope handles (Vital Signs LED, Heine 2.5 V Xenon, and 3.5 V Xenon), using a custom-built chamber to measure light intensity directly from the handle source and the tip of each blade. With each handle, five new disposable blades of each type were compared to a Heine reusable stainless steel blade.…