Experience with the McCoy laryngoscope in difficult laryngoscopy

• Published in: Anaesthesia Vol. 52; no. 9; pp. 906 - 908
• Main Authors: Chisholm, D. G., Calder, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-09-1997; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia; Anesthesia, General; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Contraindications; Equipment; laryngoscope, McCoy; General anesthesia. Technics. Complications. Neuromuscular blocking. Premedication. Surgical preparation. Sedation; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Intubation, tracheal; difficult; Laryngoscopes; Laryngoscopy; Larynx; Medical sciences; Human; General anesthesia; Complication; Endoscopy; Apparatus; Intubation; Laryngoscope; Trachea; Laryngoscopy
• ISSN: 0003-2409; 1365-2044
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1997.196-az0329.x

We report our experience with the McCoy levering laryngoscope in 48 patients who were a Cormack and Lehane grade 3 or grade 4 view at direct laryngoscopy. The view with the blade in neutral position was grade 3 in 39 patients and grade 4 in nine patients. Elevation of the levered tip of the blade in the grade 3 group improved the view to grade 2 in 17 patients (44%), in 17 patients (44%) the view remained unchanged and in five patients (12%) the view deteriorated to grade 4. In the patients initially grade 4, the view improved to grade 3 in one patient and remained unchanged in eight patients. The McCoy laryngoscope is a useful tool to aid intubation in about half of patients who are a grade 3 view at laryngoscopy. Our experience indicates it is unlikely to improve a grade 4 view.