The Laryngoscope, what is it?

The laryngoscope is a medical instrument mainly used for tracheal intubation by allowi

ng visualization of the glottis. It is made up of two parts:

A blade that is used to free the tongue, the soft palate and the epiglottis. A light source is located at the end of it. It is either a small bulb or an optical fiber that brings light from the handle. The blade can be reusable or disposable.

A handle used to manipulate the instrument. It contains the batteries and, in the case of fiber optic laryngoscopes, the light source.

The latest laryngoscope models are equipped with an optical fiber connected to a color screen attached to the handle. They allow easier intubation, especially in difficult cases.

What are the cases that require the use of this medical device?

The laryngoscope is primarily used for tracheal intubation. it is a medical procedure consisting of placing a semi-rigid intubation probe in the trachea, thus allowing artificial ventilation in two cases: resuscitation or anesthesia.

In France, tracheal intubation is a regulated act and carried out exclusively by a doctor (emergency doctor or anesthesiologist) or a certified nurse anesthetist. The indications are respiratory and / or circulatory distress whatever the origin and control of the airways in a surgical setting.

tracheal intubation

What are the components of a laryngoscope

The most common laryngoscopy equipment is a laryngoscope, which consists of a handle, a curved (Mac Intosh type) or straight (Miller type) blade and a light source built into the blade.

The blades are available in different sizes. Many variants have been developed, blades equipped with an optic, articulated blades, inverted blades for left-handers, single-use blades, etc.

laryngoscopes are available from Toomed:

Mc Intosh laryngoscope 4 blades

F / O Laryngoscope set, 3 Mc Intosh blades and 1 Handle

How does a laryngoscopy work?

The instrument is placed in the patient's mouth, which is placed with the head far back.

It should absolutely not move because on the one hand it can be painful and on the other hand the gesture requires great concentration and should be performed by an experienced doctor. for Gerati Laparoscopic laryngoscope

The throat, vocal cords or larynx can then be injured.

But in cases where there is no life-threatening emergency, everything is done to improve patient comfort.

The doctor can then observe, using a small tube fitted with a camera, all the parts located inside the larynx such as the glottis or the vocal cords.

If there is a problem such as polyps or tumors, this system will allow in a single gesture to observe and possibly collect samples to be studied then in anatomopathology But this is the diagnostic part, the endotracheal intubation tube, it, is for therapeutic purposes.

Are there people who cannot be intubated?

If you have already undergone surgery, you have previously met with the anesthetist.

When he asks you to open your mouth wide, he detects a possible difficulty in intubation.

All precautions will then be taken by the latter to set up other ventilation systems.

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