Paediatric Bonfils Intubation

Intubation in a young child with a severe submandibular abscess using the paediatric Bonfils rigid intubating endoscope under inhalational general anaesthesia. Direct laryngoscopy showed only severe swelling with a Cormack-Lehane grade 3b view.  A standard laryngoscope was used with the left hand to create an open path for the Bonfils just right of the midline, avoiding the worst of the submandibular swelling.  3.5mm Bonfils allowed intubation with a 4.5 mm uncuffed ETT.  Note that because this is a rigid intubating scope, it is not inserted through the vocal cords, but they are visible through the tube as it is inserted with the Bonfils held steady.