| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Correspondence |
Cleveland, Ohio
To the Editor:
The GlideScope® video laryngoscope (GVL; Saturn Biomedical Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada) is a novel system for tracheal intubation that utilizes a video camera embedded into a plastic laryngoscope blade. The blade is 18 mm at its maximum width, and bends 60° at the mid-line. This configuration provides a view that is far superior to that of a conventional laryngoscope. The video image is displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, and can also be recorded electronically. Experience using the GVL has been excellent.1–3
One problem with the GVL, however, is that its size and its requirement for AC power makes it impractical for use in a number of important clinical settings such as in air ambulances or to carry to "code blue" events. The purpose of this note is to report on a modification of the GVL system to achieve miniaturization for use in such settings. In essence, this modification involves constructing a simple interface circuit that allows the GVL to be connected to any NTSC compatible display, eliminating entirely the need for the base unit. The top portion of the Figure
shows how the Panasonic "e-ware SD multi AV device" can be used as a miniature video display/recording system for the GVL when the interface is used. The display device, which costs about $400 US and is under 3 inches in size in its largest dimension, features a 2-inch LCD display and has the ability to record both static images and extended video clips to a SD type flash memory card.
|
shows a schematic diagram of the electronic interface. A 12-volt power source supplies the 130 mA of electrical current required for the GVL. Two 6-volt lithium photo batteries serve this purpose well. These batteries fit together (in series) in a single AA-size battery holder mounted in a small electronic box equipped with an RCA-type video jack. Finally, the required cable is most easily obtained by sacrificing an existing GVL cable, available from the manufacturer (model GS1001-600 connector cable). The author has used this arrangement in over a dozen clinical cases with excellent results.
Footnotes
Support was provided solely from institutional and/or departmental sources. The author has no commercial interest in the GlideScope or in Saturn Biomedical Systems.
References
1 Cooper RM. Use of a new videolaryngoscope (GlideScope®) in the management of a difficult airway. Can J Anesth 2003; 50: 611–3.
2 Agro F, Barzoi G, Montecchia F. Tracheal intubation using a Macintosh laryngoscope or a GlideScope in 15 patients with cervical spine immobilization (Letter). Br J Anaesth 2003; 90: 705–6.
3 Doyle DJ, Zura A, Ramachandran M. Videolaryngoscopy in the management of the difficult airway (Letter). Can J Anesth 2004; 51: 95.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  B. Shippey, D. Ray, and D. McKeown Case series: The McGrath(R) videolaryngoscope - an initial clinical evaluation: [Serie de cas : Le videolaryngoscope McGrath(R) - une premiere evaluation clinique] Can J Anesth, April 1, 2007; 54(4): 307 - 313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. K. Gooden Successful first time use of the portable GlideScope(R) videolaryngoscope in a patient with severe ankylosing spondylitis Can J Anesth, August 1, 2005; 52(7): 777 - 778. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A.E. Shephard The changing pattern of anesthesia, 1954-2004: a review based on the content of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia in its first half-century: [La transformation du modele de l'anesthesie, 1954-2004 : une revue fondee sur le contenu du premier demi-siecle du Journal canadien d'anesthesie] Can J Anesth, March 1, 2005; 52(3): 238 - 248. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
