The Evolution of Flexible Endoscopes

Airway management continues to be advanced by improvements in several key devices. Single use disposable flexible endoscopes are now widely available which brings this powerful airway tool within reach of many emergency departments. These advances introduce airway management options that are not yet widely utilized. One particularly powerful example is the use of a flexible endoscope to facilitate tube delivery after the larynx has been exposed using a video laryngoscope. This two operator technique has been called a dynamic stilett or a smart bougie.