Development of endotracheal intubation devices for patients with tumors

The incidence and mortality of malignant tumors are rapidly increasing in the world. Patients with malignant tumors often need surgery for treatment. Endotracheal intubation is a necessary technique for surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia. It is also an important procedure for critically ill patients in the emergency room or ICU. Most patients with head and neck tumors and some specific patients have difficult airways, so the operator may need to use a variety of intubation devices. The commonly used devices for endotracheal intubation include endotracheal tube, direct laryngoscope, video laryngoscope, introducer, optical stylet, fiberoptic bronchoscope. With the advancement in science and technology, the endotracheal intubation devices have been improved, and new devices have been developed. These devices are safer and more feasible in clinical practice. In this review, we summarized the features and applications of some of the currently used devices. Each device has its own uniqueness and meets different needs. The devices and their respective properties are strongly suggested to be mastered by the anesthesiologists as well as related staffs, so as to select the appropriate device for intubation.