Endotracheal intubation remains the gold standard for securing the airway in emergency medicine. However, difficult endotracheal intubation and complications are common during emergency intubation. In contrast to conventional direct laryngoscopy, the new generation of devices does not require direct visualization of the vocal cords for endotracheal tube placement. These devices allow a better glottic view and successful endotracheal placement of the tube, especially if direct laryngoscopy is difficult. Recent studies showed that utilization of these devices can be easily learned. The technique of indirect laryngoscopy is currently used for securing the airway in daily anesthesia routine as well as for managing the difficult airway in the operating room. This article gives an overview of available devices for indirect endotracheal intubation as well as the current literature.

The McGrath video-laryngoscope was used in a patient with immobilized cervical spine and suspected difficult airway after a high level fall with traumatic brain injury and suspected cervical spine trauma. The airway was successfully secured in the preclinical setting using an oral endotracheal tube with full view of the glottis. Because video-laryngoscopy offers potential advantages compared to established airway management techniques, further studies are required to evaluate the significance of video-laryngoscopy in prehospital emergency medicine.