Orotrachial intubation in darkness using night vision goggles

Securing the airway of a wounded soldier while operating in a light-restricted combat environment may be required of forward-deployed military medical personnel. The best method of obtaining such an airway has not been addressed. In this pilot study, the objective was to examine the use of endotracheal intubation using an infrared filtered laryngoscope and night vision goggles.

The investigators performed endotracheal intubation, using an infrared filter light source laryngoscope, on patients undergoing elective surgical procedures. All intubations took place in a completely darkened operating room.

Twenty-one patients (91.3%) were intubated successfully as defined in the study. No adverse outcomes or complications occurred.

This study demonstrates that endotracheal intubation can be performed using a laryngoscope with an infrared filter and night vision goggles with a high success rate in a select population in a darkened environment.