Posture at laryngoscopy

Abstract

Editor'The article by H.-C. Lee and colleagues1Lee H-C Yun M-J Hwang J-W Na H-S Kim D-H Park J-Y Higher operating tables provide better laryngeal views for tracheal intubation.Br J Anaesth. 2014; 112: 749-755Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar is of interest to me as a teacher of trainee anaesthetists. It is a well-known fact that novice anaesthetists tend to stoop, straining their back, and look closely in the mouth, thus making visualization of the glottis more difficult (because of reduced binocular vision).2Matthews AJ Johnson CJH Goodman NW Body posture during simulated tracheal intubation.Anaesthesia. 1998; 53: 331-334Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar, 3Walker JD Posture used by anaesthetists during laryngoscopy.Br J Anaesth. 2002; 89: 772-774Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar Matthews and colleagues2Matthews AJ Johnson CJH Goodman NW Body posture during simulated tracheal intubation.Anaesthesia. 1998; 53: 331-334Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar stated in 1998 that ‘One anaesthetist commented that he tells students that they need only to look in the mouth, not get into it')’, and conclude that ‘We now teach students explicitly to try to stand up and stand back when attempting intubation')’. Walker's conclusion in 2002 is that ‘Novice anaesthetists should be given explicit instructions on correct trolley height and should be taught to intubate with a straight back')’. I give similar advice in my book,4Dolenska S Routine intubation.in: Dolenska S Dalal P Taylor A Essentials of Airway Management. Greenwich Medical Media, London2004: 27-38Google Scholar based on years of experience. It seems that collective memory needs reiteration with each new generation of anaesthetists. I am a published author of a book on airway management (cited).