Laryngoscopy

Laryngoscopy is endoscopy of the larynx, the part of the throat holding the vocal structures and the glottis, performed by inserting a viewing instrument into the mouth and positioning the tongue to bring the larynx into view. Direct laryngoscopy gives an immediate line of sight view, while indirect methods use a mirror, fiberoptics or a video camera to see the area without a direct line of sight. It is used to allow tracheal intubation during anesthesia and emergency resuscitation, to diagnose voice problems, throat pain and swallowing difficulty, to detect airway obstruction or tissue damage, and to allow surgery on structures of the larynx; because direct laryngoscopy is uncomfortable for a conscious patient with an intact gag reflex, it is usually performed on a sedated or unconscious patient in a setting equipped for resuscitation.