laryngoscope

What is a Laryngoscope?

A laryngoscope is a medical tool that healthcare professionals use to help them see and access the inside of a person's throat, particularly the larynx (commonly known as the voice box). Here's a simplified explanation of what a laryngoscope is and how it's used:

Eg., Imagine you're looking inside a dark tunnel, and you need a flashlight to see what's in there. A laryngoscope is like that flashlight for healthcare professionals but designed specifically for looking into your throat.

Why is it used?

It is used for several reasons:

Breathing problems:

If someone is having difficulty breathing or has a blockage in their throat, healthcare professionals use a laryngoscope to get a clear view and address the issue of the throat or lung.

Surgery:

Healthcare professionals use it during pre-procedures for looking into the throat area or inserting the artificial airway to resolve lung problems.

How does it work?

A laryngoscope has a long, thin, and usually curved or straight metal with a small light at the end. When healthcare professionals need to use it, they gently insert the through the left handle (dominant hand) into your mouth. The light at the end helps them see what's happening inside.

Types of laryngoscopes

There are different types of laryngoscopes.

The most common are "direct" laryngoscopes, where the healthcare professionals directly look into your throat. There are also "video" laryngoscopes, which use a tiny camera to display the inside of your throat on a screen.

Making it comfortable

Healthcare professionals take care to make the process as comfortable as possible. They might use a numbing spray or gel for your throat, so you don't feel discomfort while the laryngoscope is in place.

What happens next?

Type of laryngoscopes in detail

There are a couple of different laryngoscope types.

Think of them like different versions of a flashlight, each designed to help healthcare professionals see inside your throat in their own unique way:

a.       Direct laryngoscopes

What they are like

These are like the traditional flashlights. The healthcare professional holds the laryngoscope with a curved metal or plastic handle and looks directly into your mouth to see your throat.

When they are used

Direct laryngoscopes are commonly used when healthcare professionals  need to quickly check your throat or help with a simple procedure like removing your tonsils or looking for infections.

b.      video laryngoscopes

What they are like

Imagine a tiny camera on the end of the flashlight. Video laryngoscopes have a small camera on the tip, and the healthcare professional can see the inside of your throat on a screen, like a TV.

When they are used

These are used when the healthcare professional needs a really clear picture of your throat. They're helpful for more complex surgeries and when they want to show you what's happening on a screen.

Miller laryngoscope blade: 

Imagine a straight, flat tool with a little curve at the end. This tool helps healthcare professionals see inside your throat and guide a breathing tube. It's good for people whose vocal cords are tricky to see, mostly in children’s.

Mc’ intosh laryngoscope blade:

Picture a curved tool with the end curving away from the handle. This tool also helps healthcare professionals see inside your throat and guide a breathing tube (artificial airway), but it's the one they use more often. The curve helps lift something called the epiglottis and lets them see your vocal cords.

Both these tools are like flashlights that healthcare professionals use to see what they're doing when they put a breathing tube into your throat. The choice between them depends on the patient's throat shape and what the healthcare professional prefers to use.