An Approach to Improve the Effectiveness of the Video-Assisted Intubating Stylet Technique for Tracheal Intubation: A Case Series Report

Abstract

Direct laryngoscopy and videolaryngoscopy are currently the dominant tools for endotracheal intubation. However, the video-assisted intubating stylet, a type of videolaryngoscopy, has been shown to offer some advantages over these tools, such as rapid intubation time, high first-attempt success rates, less airway stimulation, and high subjective satisfaction. On the other hand, this optical intubating technique also has some technical limitations that need to be addressed, including camera lens fogging, airway path disorientation, and obscured visibility due to secretions. In this clinical report, we describe an approach that improves the visibility of the glottis by introducing a suctioning catheter into the nasopharyngeal airway to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of using the intubating stylet technique for tracheal intubation.