r/emergencymedicine • u/Radiant_Alchemist • 22d ago
Advice Will Video Laryngoscopy become the norm?
I love VL. They make standard laryngoscopes look brutal. They're less traumatizing, they give a better view, they have a better first-pass success. Sure you need to learn direct laryngoscopy but let's say in 5 years from now will they be used as routine in OR and ER intubations? Or will they be saved for hard cases?
I've been told that the equipment tends to suck and that we won't have VL as available as in the current department that I'm working so I should stick to Macintosh and McCoy.
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u/lunaincc 22d ago
Man, is pgy 10 really that old? lol. When I was training. It was pretty much seen as weakness if you went VL on first attempt. For the reason that are pretty much worthless in hematemesis or just vomiting in general. In the OR, I can see it as the go to as it is, for the most part, is a controlled environment.
I can remember the last time I used VL, except for a large obese man with no neck in respiratory failure and very little reserve. I do use it from time to time in certain situations and if no reason other than to keep up proficiency.
In my experience, most of the easy VLs ive done would have been just as easy with DL. If I do a DL and am having difficulty, I have become very skilled with a blind bougie.
Just like any other procedure……..results are based on the proficiency of whoever is performing it. I’m a huge advocate of being skilled in multiple modalities. If the only tool you have is hammer, every problem is a nail.