English 
Airway management is a crucial pathway to ensure the vital signs of critically patients. This article mainly introduces various application tools used in the process of airway management. Choosing the appropriate airway management device is the key to smooth airway management.
Airway management is an important part of anesthesia work. With the continuous development of modern anesthesiology, airway management has become more fine sorted. Professionals dedicated to anesthesia at home and abroad have created a large number of airway management devices, and these endless airway management tools have, to a certain extent, promoted the development of airway management.
An artificial airway primarily establishes a gas channel through a tube that enters the human organs via the patient's mouth, nose, or a tracheostomy.
(a) Indications
Patients with airway obstruction;
Increased secretions in the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, making suction easier;
Protection of the tongue and teeth during seizures or convulsions;
Acting as a bite block when there is a tracheal tube in place, preventing the tube from being bitten.
(a) Indications
Artificial respiration: Rescue of respiratory arrest or failure due to various causes, and respiratory management during anesthesia.
Transport of patients: Suitable for mechanically ventilated patients undergoing special inspections, entering and exiting the operating room, etc.
Temporary replacement: Can be used temporarily in cases of ventilator failure, power outages, and other emergencies.
The oxygen reservoir valve and the oxygen reservoir bag must be combined with external oxygen. If oxygen is not connected, the two components should be removed.
Indirect Laryngoscope
Advantages: Simple and easy to use, easy to master, and less discomfort for patients.
Limitations: Patients with a sensitive pharyngeal reflex cannot tolerate it; unsatisfactory for patients with a thick tongue base and poor epiglottis lift; difficult to observe laryngeal lesions in children due to their anatomical characteristics.
Direct Laryngoscope
Advantages: Provides a detailed understanding of laryngeal structural abnormalities, determines the location and extent of the lesion, and allows for biopsy if necessary.
Limitations: Does not provide functional indicators of the larynx. Since the advent of fiber and electronic laryngoscopes, the application range of direct laryngoscopy has diminished and is now primarily used for surgical procedures.
Electronic/Fiberoptic Laryngoscope
Advantages:
The flexible and bendable scope does not require special positioning, causing minimal pain and trauma, suitable for patients with neck deformities, limited mouth opening, and those who are frail or critically ill.
Easier to operate and better for examining various laryngeal lesions in the natural voicing state.
The distal end of the scope is closer to the anatomical site, especially effective for patients with a short neck, thick tongue, narrow pharyngeal cavity, and infantile epiglottis.
Disadvantages: Small objective lens, long scope length, causing fish-eye effect, image distortion, and poor color fidelity.
Dynamic/Stroboscopic Laryngoscope
Advantages: The only method able to observe vocal cord mucosal wave movement. Provides an objective basis for diagnosing vocal cord diseases (e.g., vocal cord cysts, early vocal cord cancer) and comparing pre- and post-operative conditions.
Video Laryngoscope
Wide operational range, safe, and clean.
Open field of vision, allowing both operator and assistants to see the lesion.
Easier and clearer glottic exposure. Especially suitable for: obesity, limited neck movement, short neck, thick neck, high larynx, dental protection (large overbite, missing teeth, loose teeth), head trauma, etc.
Reduces oropharyngeal tissue damage caused by intubation: (i) The force applied by the laryngoscope blade to the tongue base is more appropriate; (ii) The unique design of the blade tip significantly reduces the lifting force needed for exposure, reducing stimulation to the tongue base and pharyngeal tissues.
