Video Laryngoscopy for Intubation — Time for a New Paradigm?

Endotracheal intubation — a potentially lifesaving procedure that is used for the care of many critically ill patients — demands precision, speed, and skill. It involves the placement of a tube into the trachea to protect the airways while ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation for patients who are in respiratory distress or are unable to breathe effectively on their own (or both). Historically, direct laryngoscopy has been the favored technique, in which practitioners use a laryngoscope blade to visualize the larynx directly through the mouth in order to correctly position the endotracheal tube for insertion. Video laryngoscopy has emerged as . . .