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Mirror laryngoscopy
From WikEM
Contents
Overview
- Helpful if fiberoptic laryngoscopy is not available
Indications
Contraindications
Equipment Needed
- Head lamp or assistant with mobile light source
- Mirror
Procedure
- Patient should sit with head in sniffing position
- Warm mirror with water to prevent fogging
- Grasp tongue with non-dominant hand, use middle finger to lift upper lip
- Insert mirror parallel to tongue and lift cephalad against uvula/soft palate until larynx is seen
- Topical anesthetic such as benzocaine or lidocaine 4% may help
- Have patient phonate with a high pitched voice ("eeee") to move epiglottis and to visualize cord function [1]
Complications
- Inability to complete due to gag reflex
- Traumatic abrasions or bleeding
- Laryngospasm if paraglottic infection
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Riviello R. Otolaryngologic Procedures. In: Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2014.
