EemDOCs - August 08, 2022 - By Cameron Jones
Reviewed by: Bryant Allen; Alex Koyfman; Marina Boushra; Brit Long
Take-Home Points
- Video laryngoscopes include standard-geometry blades (SGVL), hyper-angulated blades (HAVL), and hyper-angulated blades with an ET tube channel.
- While SGVL involves similar technique to classic DL blades, HAVL requires a specific skill set, particularly when it comes to tube insertion.
- There is some evidence that VL may increase first-pass and overall intubation-success rate, but the data in ED-based studies is still mixed.
- The availability of SGVL also makes the “VL vs DL” debate obsolete, and EPs should instead focus on building both HAVL and SGVL into their airway algorithms.
- There is limited evidence comparing HAVL and SGVL, and future prospective trials may inform selection of specific devices for certain clinical scenarios.