The objective of this health technology policy assessment was to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of video-assisted laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation.
Video-assisted, rigid laryngoscopes have been recently introduced that allow for the illumination of the airway and the accurate placement of the endotracheal tube.Two such devices are available in Canada: the Bullard® Laryngoscope that relies on fibre optics for illumination and the GlideScope® that uses a video camera and a light source to illuminate the airway. Both are connected to an external monitor so health professionals other than the operator can visualize the insertion of the tube. These devices therefore may be very useful as teaching aids for tracheal intubation.