Rapid Responses

The primary purpose of Rapid Responses is to provide a venue for readers to comment on and discuss scientific content published in CJA Online.

Please note that Rapid Response comments must be made in one of Canada's official languages, English or French, to solicit response.

General comments or concerns should be sent to the communications{at}cas.ca.

Electronic Letters to:

Case Reports/Case Series: Richard M. Cooper Complications associated with the use of the GlideScope® videolaryngoscope: [Complications suite à l’utilisation du vidéolaryngoscope GlideScope®] Can J Anesth 2007; 54: 54-57 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

eLetters: Submit a response to this article

Electronic letters published:

Maintain Visual Contact

Davide Cattano, Francesco Giunta   (19 April 2007)

Maintain Visual Contact 19 April 2007
Davide Cattano, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Francesco Giunta Send letter to journal: Re: Maintain Visual Contact davidecattano{at}hotmail.com Davide Cattano, et al.	Dr Cooper [1] reported recently a rare but possible complication of using a device that enhances the optical capacities of direct laryngoscopy, precluding however, in inexperienced hand the visualization of the sorrounding tissues and anatomical structures. However this assumption is true if we really sit the Glidescope and then advance the endotracheal tube, blindly, until somehow it appears on the screen. The best recognized value of Glidescope is to offer a a practical view of the fibrescopy while observing the endotracheal tube passing the vocal cords [2], preventing traumatisms, making its potentiality behond the endotracheal intubation [3]. We believe Dr Cooper was too kind describing the minor contribution of a non anesthesiologist and not experienced practitioner with the Glidescope, besides he claimed to be present during the procedure. It seems to us critical the visualization of the anatomical structures during the laryngoscopy with the Glidescope and the positioning of the tube, that, as suggested by the author as well, can be used with a Trachlight manouver and easily follow the curvature on the blade of the glidescope. Two details were not given. The first if the Glidescope blade used in this accidents was the high black profile or the new blue low profile. The second is the possibility that the blade can be manipulated to stay midline and that a regular stylet was too malleable, compared to the stylet that was provided by the Saturn, to keep the direction wanted by the operator, but stiff enough, compared to a Parker stylet, making easier in a wrong position to threat the mucosae. [1] Richard M. Cooper Complications associated with the use of the GlideScope® videolaryngoscope: [Complications suite à l’utilisation du vidéolaryngoscope GlideScope®] Can J Anesth 2007; 54: 54-57 [2] Cattano D, Gonnella R, Peretti F, et al. “Difficult endotracheal intubations solved by Glidescope” AlR 2004, 13: 147-49 [3] Cattano D, Gonnella R, Paolicchi A, et al. “Glidescope videolaryngoscopy system for daily clinical activity” Minerva Anestesiol 2005; 71 (2): 98