1 0 9
A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
satisfier.
• What's the price to prevent a catastrophe? When one lost airway can eas-
ily become a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, a $5,000 to $10,000 tool is a
comparatively inexpensive way to minimize a potentially catastrophic
risk. From an administrative standpoint, this is a no-brainer.
What to look for in a trial
If you're in the market for an airway visualization device, trialing is
relatively easy, especially if you're not test-driving the devices on diffi-
cult airways. Some of them fit more comfortably in your hand than
others. Low-profile designs can make for easier insertions. A higher-
resolution image will be more impressive every time.
The size of the screen actually makes a big difference, and can be a
trade-off. A 2-inch display mounted on a laryngoscope handle is a neat
innovation, but portability can be a liability when the device has
walked away and you suddenly need it. A larger, separate screen con-
nected to the scope by a cable tends to stay where it's needed. It's also
easily visible to more than just the anesthesia provider (and a great
help to providers with aging eyes), though it can prove bulkier in
emergency, on-the-move situations.
Sterility issues are also an important concern. Devices made up of sev-
eral detachable parts, particularly those combining single-use and
reusable components, may speed cleaning and reprocessing as com-
pared to one-piece, permanently mounted scopes. Once your crew
starts using video laryngoscopes, it's likely they'll want to use them
more and more, so be sure to keep turnaround time in mind. OSM
Dr. Loskove (joseph.loskove@shcr.com) is regional medical director for Sheridan Healthcare's anesthesia
division, chief of anesthesia at Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Fla., and assistant professor at the
Nova Southeastern University Anesthesiologist Assistant Program in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
