8 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 2 0
W
hen some surgical professionals hear devices are "dispos-
able" or "single-use," they focus on the benefit of eliminating
the cost and safety issues associated with cleaning and ster-
ilizing. Others think of discarded devices endlessly piling up in landfills.
Those are important considerations to be sure, but when shopping for
disposable laryngoscopes used during critically important intubations,
you need to assess the pros and cons of the options based on perform-
ance and quality before deciding if single use is the way to go.
A disposable laryngoscope has three basic parts:
• the handle, which usually houses the battery;
• the blade, available in various sizes for different types of patients
and in both straight (Miller) and curved (Macintosh) versions; and
• the light source.
Here are the factors and features you should consider when decid-
ing which option is right for your facility and anesthesia providers:
• Illumination. Most single-use laryngoscopes employ an LED
white light source at the distal end of the blade. But how strong is
that light? My advice: Don't rely on manufacturers' specs to judge
illumination quality. Have your providers try the devices in prac-
tice to make their own quality assessments. For example, one
product we thought would have a very strong light source was
revealed during trialing to have an inadequate intensity of light. It
just didn't prove as effective as our providers liked, but it wasn't
until we opened the product and used it that we found that out.
Keep in mind, though, that manufacturers are constantly upgrading
their equipment. A product you trialed two years ago might now
have better illumination.
Disposable Laryngoscopes
Durability and performance are keys when assessing single-use options.
Thinking of Buying…
Jason Brainard, MD | Aurora, Colo.