Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques01:30

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

903
Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway...
903
Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy01:30

Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy

1.0K
Endoscopy is a non-surgical medical technique used to examine a person's internal organs and vessels. This lesson will focus on two types of endoscopic studies: 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...
1.0K
Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway01:25

Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway

1.6K
In preparing for oropharyngeal airway suctioning, a nurse must gather all necessary equipment, including a suction unit with tubing, a prepackaged suction kit, sterile gloves, water or saline for irrigation, a water-soluble lubricant, and additional personal protective equipment (such as a gown, mask, and goggles) to control infections.
After assembling the equipment, the nurse should practice hand hygiene and don appropriate PPE according to infection control guidelines to avoid the...
1.6K
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management01:22

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management

1.1K
Airway management is a key skill in emergency and critical care settings, as maintaining a clear airway is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.Head Tilt-Chin Lift TechniqueThe head tilt-chin lift maneuver is an essential technique primarily used in patients without suspected cervical spine injuries. To perform this maneuver, one hand is placed on the patient’s forehead, and gentle pressure is applied backward to tilt the head. The fingertips of the other hand are positioned...
1.1K
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway01:29

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway

6.1K
Nasopharyngeal suctioning is a procedure to remove secretions from the upper part of the respiratory tract that the patient cannot clear independently. It helps maintain airway patency and prevents complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Equipment Required
6.1K
Endoscopic Procedures I: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy01:29

Endoscopic Procedures I: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

2.2K
An Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a diagnostic procedure in which an endoscopist uses a flexible, lighted endoscope to visualize the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The procedure includes visualizing the oropharynx, esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum.
During an EGD, the endoscope can be used to:
2.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Using latent class analysis to identify subgroups of postoperative older adults.

SAGE open medicine·2026
Same author

Changes in Symptom Scales of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Following Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation·2026
Same author

Polymeric Sustained-Release Chlorhexidine Coating on Gutta-Percha Points for Prolonged Intracanal Antimicrobial Delivery: An In Vitro Study.

Pharmaceutics·2026
Same author

Implementation of a Systematic Patient Mobility Program Across 5 Hospitals.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2026
Same author

In reply to cricometer-guided cricoid force in children: Comments on device specific considerations.

Anaesthesia, critical care & pain medicine·2026
Same author

In reply to comment on "Quantifying the effective cricoid force to occlude the esophageal entrance in anesthetized and muscle-relaxed children: A videolaryngoscopy-based assessment".

Anaesthesia, critical care & pain medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes
03:58

Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes

Published on: August 2, 2024

2.8K

Head elevation improves laryngeal exposure with direct laryngoscopy.

Mohammad I El-Orbany1, Yohannes B Getachew2, Ninos J Joseph3

  • 1Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis,.

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
|December 4, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Optimizing head position during laryngoscopy significantly improves glottic exposure. The sniffing and elevated sniffing positions reduce the incidence of difficult laryngoscopy, enhancing patient safety.

Keywords:
Direct laryngoscopySniffing position

More Related Videos

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
07:45

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.4K
Learning Modern Laryngeal Surgery in a Dissection Laboratory
07:30

Learning Modern Laryngeal Surgery in a Dissection Laboratory

Published on: March 18, 2020

8.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes
03:58

Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes

Published on: August 2, 2024

2.8K
Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
07:45

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.4K
Learning Modern Laryngeal Surgery in a Dissection Laboratory
07:30

Learning Modern Laryngeal Surgery in a Dissection Laboratory

Published on: March 18, 2020

8.9K

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Airway Management

Background:

  • Direct laryngoscopy is crucial for airway management during general anesthesia.
  • Optimizing patient positioning is essential for achieving adequate glottic visualization.
  • Previous studies suggest head elevation can improve laryngeal view.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of different head positions on laryngeal view during direct laryngoscopy.
  • To determine the optimal head elevation for improved glottic exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, randomized, crossover study involving 167 adult patients undergoing elective surgery.
  • Laryngeal view was graded in three head positions: no elevation, sniffing (6cm), and elevated sniffing (10cm).
  • A special inflatable pillow was used to control head height.

Main Results:

  • Difficult laryngoscopy (grade ≥3) incidence decreased from 8.38% (no elevation) to 2.39% (sniffing) and 1.19% (elevated sniffing).
  • Head elevation did not worsen the laryngoscopic grade in any patient.
  • The sniffing and elevated sniffing positions significantly improved glottic exposure compared to no elevation.

Conclusions:

  • The sniffing position improves glottic exposure, particularly when initial visualization is suboptimal.
  • The elevated sniffing position offers further improvement in laryngeal view for some patients.
  • Elevated sniffing position is a safe and effective initial head position for anticipated difficult laryngoscopy.