What Is Laryngoscopy?

Doctors sometimes use a small device to look into your throat and larynx, or voice box. This procedure is called laryngoscopy. They may do this to figure out why you have a cough or sore throat, to find and remove something that’s stuck in there, or to take samples of your tissue to look at later.

When Is Laryngoscopy Needed?

Your doctor may do it to find out why you have a sore throat that won’t go away or to diagnose an ongoing problem such as coughing, hoarseness, or bad breath. She also might do one when:

• You have something stuck in your throat.
• trouble breathing or swallowing.
•  an earache that won’t go away.
• She needs to examine something that could be a sign of a more serious health problem such as cancer.
• She needs to remove a growth.

Laryngoscope and blades

OVERVIEW

• device used to visualise the vocal cords to facilitate intubation

What is the use of laryngoscope?

• visualisation the vocal cords to allow insertion of an endotracheal tube
• also useful for insertion of a gastric tube or TOE probe by lifting the larynx forwards.

In addition, DESCRIPTION

• Base of blade (attaches to handle and makes an electrical connection when extended)
• Hook of blade
• Curved or Straight blade
• Flange (containing web and light source) – proximal flange to sweep the tongue aside
• Tip
• Handle tip containing electrical connection and connection for hook
• Green line
• Handle containing batteries

Handles

• Standard size handle
• Short handle — useful for short necks, barrel chests and large breasts such as obstetric or obese patients (often with a Kessel blade)
• Penlight — thinner diameter, works better with smaller blades

Blades

• Various types of blades
  — Macintosh (commonest; blade attaches to handle at 90 degrees)
  — Kessel (like the Macintosh but the blade attaches at 110 degrees)
  — McCoy (Macintosh like blade with a moveable distal tip segment, flexed by a lever controlled by the thumb of the hand holding the handle to displace the larynx forwards)
  — Magill (straight blade with U-shaped cross section)
  — Miller and Wisconsin blades (straight blades with curved tips)
• Disposable metal and plastic blades available
• Right-handed blades available for left handed people