Abstract
The author has used a light-guided intubation technique with Trachlight™ as the first-choice device for tracheal intubation in usual clinical practice to provide general anesthesia. The results of 1,500 consecutive intubation experiences with Trachlight™ revealed only a less than 0.5% failure rate with a more than 90% success rate on the first attempt after gaining sufficient experience in the first 500 cases. It seems to be comparable to conventional laryngoscopy with respect to reliability as well as safety, simplicity, ease of use and cost. One advantage of Trachlight™ over the conventional methods is that, even if the epiglottis falls down to the posterior pharyngeal wall, the tip of the Trachlight™ can be placed at the glottic opening from the lateral posterior side through the piriform fossa directed by a light-guide which does not require a space in the pharynx to view the upper airway structures. Thus, it does not appear to be influenced by anatomical variations of the upper airway. It is tempting to argue that more frequent use of the light-guided technique among anesthesiologists may render routine use of direct laryngoscopy obsolete.
