RBWH Neonatology Registrar Shelvarngan Ravindraraj and one of the new video laryngoscopes

The RBWH Grantley Stable Neonatology Unit is the proud owner of two new video laryngoscopes thanks to a successful funding grant from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

The video laryngoscopes are already providing greater convenience when intubating patients, a higher success rate of first-time intubations, as well as better patient comfort. The technology is also being used for other procedures such as providing patients with non-invasive surfactant while they are on CPAP.

RBWH Neonatology Registrar Shelvarngan Ravindraraj said having access to live video footage while using the laryngoscope means other clinicians can watch the procedure, providing greater teaching opportunities.

“Our previous technology didn’t have a camera function, so now clinicians who are learning the procedure can watch the entire process,” Dr Ravindraraj said.

“In terms of overall development of skills, this new technology will improve the unit as a whole as we can now teach more clinicians to intubate with fewer attempts.

“We intubate two to three patients per week, so up to 100 patients each year will have access to more successful intubation.”