Videolaryngoscopy and obstetric anaesthesia

Editor—We congratulate Professor Cook and Dr Kelly on their important national survey of videolaryngoscopy in the UK.¹ They highlighted that while videolaryngoscopes (VLs) are widely available in main operating theatres, availability in other areas where tracheal intubation is undertaken is much lower, being around only 50% of intensive care units and obstetric theatres. We would suggest that this figure is a particular concern to obstetric anaesthesia, where the risk of failed intubation is greater than the general population. In 2011, we conducted a national Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association approved survey of the availability of VLs in UK obstetric units. This survey (response rate 72%) found that only 42% of obstetric units had a dedicated VL with widespread variation in the type of device available.²

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