Teaching guided fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation

An anaesthetic technique suitable for training in fibreoptic intubation is described. It uses a capped oropharyngeal airway which leaves the nose free for fibreoptic intubation and allows the airway to be maintained and ventilation to be controlled if necessary. An assessment is made of the technique after 50 fibreoptic intubations with the Olympus LF-1 fibrescope. There were no failed intubations and no serious complications.