Laryngoscopy in 2024: What the Evidence Reveals (Airway Interest Group-Sponsored)

Endotracheal intubation remains one of the highest-risk procedures in emergency medicine (EM). Over the years, the technology and techniques for managing the emergency airway have significantly evolved, especially with the rise of affordable, disposable video laryngoscopy devices. Given these advancements, the ideal approach to the emergency airway is often debated in the field. In this session, experts in airway management will review the latest evidence surrounding various techniques such as direct versus video laryngoscopy, hyperangulated versus standard geometry laryngoscopy, and the role of delayed sequence and awake intubations in current practice. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the data guiding airway management decisions in 2024 and beyond.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
  • Demonstrate the various techniques available for emergency airway management
  • Describe the major evidence available regarding the use of video vs direct laryngoscopy
  • Describe the major evidence available regarding the use of hyperangulated vs standard geometry video laryngoscopy
  • Describe the major evidence and utility of airway techniques beyond RSI (DSI, awake intubation)

Presenters:

  • Alexander Bracey, MD
  • Ryan N. Barnicle, MD
  • Aaron John Lacy, MD, MHPE
Authors

  • Alexander Bracey, MD, FACEP

    Albany Medical College

    I am an emergency physician practicing at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. I completed emergency medicine residency and fellowship in Resuscitation and Emergency Critical Care at Stony Brook University Hospital. I am currently the fellowship director of the Resuscitation and Emergency Critical Care program and the assistant program director for the Emergency Medicine residency at Albany Med. My focus is on the management of the critically ill patients in the emergency department setting, including advanced ECG interpretation, emergency airway management, and advanced vascular access techniques. 

  • Ryan N. Barnicle, MD

    Lifespan/Brown University

    I am the current Director of Emergency Critical Care and Director of Resuscitation Education for Brown Emergency Medicine. I completed residency in emergency medicine and stayed at Stony Brook University to complete a fellowship in Advanced Resuscitation (Resuscitation and Emergency Critical Care).

  • Aaron John Lacy, MD, MHPE

    Washington University in St. Louis

    Dr. Aaron Lacy, MD, MHPE is an Assistant Professor and the Assistant Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Residency for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. Originally from Iowa, he completed medical school at the University of Iowa, followed by residency in Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt and a Master's degree in Health Professionals Education form the University of Missouri in Kansas City. His clinical interests include bedside teaching and airway management.

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