Difficult Intubation
Successful intubation in difficult situations
Although considered common practice, intubation is often traumatic, difficult or unsuccessful.
According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists:
"A difficult airway situation in a clinical setting is one in which a conventionally trained anesthesiologist experiences difficulty with mask ventilation, difficulty with tracheal intubation, or both."
By showing the larynx and entrance to the trachea on the monitor, the TVT could be used to solve the problems associated with difficult intubations which include:
- Broken teeth due to the force of pulling the head up with a laryngoscope
- Torn and bruised tissue and vocal chords due to repeated intubation attempts
- Further medical complications due to inadequate oxygenation
- Minimizing last resort procedures like tracheotomy, which result in infections
All of the problems associated with difficult intubations result in high medical costs. Difficult intubations are highly stressful procedures in which the patient's life and body is put at risk. By viewing images, the intubation procedure is made considerably easier.