INTUBATION.....FROM THIS STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

By: Irene Preston

All of the instructional movies that you watch and intubation of rubber people in the lab will be helpful... but let me flesh that out for you, newbie.

Here are a couple of views of what the patient will look like just before being intubated from your perspective:

http://vam.anest.ufl.edu/airwaydevice/videolibrary/mallampati4_1.html#sim

http://vam.anest.ufl.edu/airwaydevice/videolibrary/mallampati4_2.html#sim

My patient was talking to us (medical staff) as he was being wheeled in.  Others may already be asleep when you see them.  Note the image in the lower left corner of the previously mentioned hyperlinks above.  That is your view (intubator's view) from the head of the bed, which you will share with an anesthesiologist that will be paying particular attention to you.  This person will verbally and physically prompt you through every aspect of the intubation.

This is what you will look like in your intubation:

Just a couple of tools of the trade:

The rest of the intubation will go something like this.  There are several still shots of particular interest so be sure to visit each page.  The picture of the vocal cords on page two and page four is realistic, the glottis is up and out of the way but this is similar.  Also on page four, they show you how to predict a difficult airway and discussion on how comparing to the four pictures presented can be helpful in that.

Be sure to watch the video first when you visit http://faculty.washington.edu/pcolley

And remember, when you get into the hospital and have questions, pick up any phone and call 500.

You will do fine, trust me!

Irene