Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

The Flexible Rhino-Laryngoscope for Awake Nasotracheal Intubation
Published on: August 2, 2024
GlideScope® vs flexible fibreoptic scope for elective intubation in obese patients
B B Abdelmalak1, E Bernstein, C Egan
1Department of General Anesthesiology and Outcomes Researcht, Huron Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, OH, USA. abdelmb@ccf.org
Abstract:
We hypothesised that in obese patients, tracheal intubation with the GlideScope® would be advantageous compared with flexible fibreoptic intubation. Seventy-five anaesthetised obese patients were randomly assigned to oral intubation by either GlideScope or flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope. We compared the two devices for time to intubate (p = 0.19), difficulty of intubation (p = 0.58), successful intubation on first attempt (p = 0.29), number of attempts (p = 0.24), incidence of hypoxaemia (p = 0.57), amount of post-intubation bleeding (p = 0.79) and sore throat (p = 0.82). None differed significantly. Median (IQR [range]) time to intubation was 37 (25-48 [19-81]) s and 95% of the first attempts were successful with the GlideScope, vs 43 (35-58 [26-96]) s and an 86% first-attempt success rate with the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope. For experienced users, the time required to intubate the trachea in anaesthetised obese patients is similar with the GlideScope and a flexible bronchoscope.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques
Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due to...
Endoscopic Procedures III: Video Capsule Endoscopy
Endoscopic Procedures I: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
During an EGD, the endoscope can be used to:
Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy

