| Earlier this year, Clarion Hospital purchased a GlideScope to ease the process of intubating patients with challenging airways. Patients being placed on ventilators and most surgical patients require intubation. This is a procedure in which a tube is passed through the mouth, through the larynx, and into the trachea. While this is a routine procedure performed daily by Clarion Hospital’s anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, it can still be challenging to perform on patients with obstructed airways, such as those who’ve experienced trauma to the head or neck or the very obese.
The anesthetist uses a tool called a laryngoscope to hold the tongue and epiglotis away from the airway in order to insert the breathing tube. The GlideScope provides the advantage of video-guided tube insertion. A miniature, high-resolution camera and anti-fogging light are positioned on the laryngoscope. The device is attached to a full-color monitor, allowing the anesthetist a clear, unobstructed view.
“This makes intubation safer for difficult airways with less trauma to the patient,” explains Dr. Ronald Buckley, anesthesiologist at Clarion Hospital. “We’ve used the GlideScope at least a dozen times in the last couple months. It is an amazing piece of equipment, and we’re fortunate to have it.”
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