ly before they're necessary," says Steven W.
McCornack, DO/MHSA, of Centerville Ohio.
Naturally, the most sophisticated new
devices also carry heavy price tags, making
developing familiarity a challenge for practi-
tioners at smaller-budget facilities. So while
enthusiasm for new airway technology
abounds, and panelists overwhelmingly agree
that devices have become more intuitive,
more user-friendly and more mobile, cost
remains a potential obstacle. Video scopes
"have improved in mobility and design, but
can still be prohibitively expensive for most
outpatient facilities," says Ms. Miller.
Fortunately, competition is leading to more
affordable options, she says. For example,
video scopes with built-in smaller monitors
can be a less-expensive choice.
Carlos G. Ramia, MD, an anesthesiologist in
Newton, N.C., longs for the day when life-sav-
ing video technology will be affordable for
every provider. "Yes, they have evolved and
now they should start to get more cost
friendly to reach every facility in the world,"
he says.
Out with the old?
Will new technology eventually make stan-
dard laryngoscopy obsolete, we asked our
panelists.
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