The use of USB endoscope (Borescope) as an educational tool and a guide for tracheal intubation − a preliminary report

Background In spite of the presence of multiple video laryngoscopes in the market, financial restrains are present that prevent its routine use in many practices. Methods The endoscope USB camera was inserted alongside with a stylet in a conventional endotracheal tube which could be inserted orally keeping it in midline (7 or 7.5 cuffed oral endotracheal tube), and sterile k-y gel was used to facilitate the insertion of the stylet and/or the borescope. This was used for 25 oral intubations in manikin and oral intubation in 10 patients. Results Oral intubation trials on manikin were done by 25 physicians after their completion of airway course as its last session. All were anesthesiologists except one emergency room physician. A total of 14 (56%) physicians were successful to orally intubate the manikin in the first attempt. Moreover, 10 (40%) physicians were successful to orally intubate the manikin in the second attempt with verbal guidance, except one who needed manual assistance, and one physician was successful to orally intubate the manikin in the third attempt with verbal assistance. The intubated 10 patients were all of Mallampati 1 or 2, where seven were intubated on the first attempt, two on the second attempt, and one failed. Conclusion Borescope can be used as a cheap option for airway management and its training. Randomized studies need to be done for its evaluation compared with other video laryngoscopy devices.