This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the levering laryn
goscope on the view obtained at laryngoscopy. Two hundred and ten cons
ecutive patients who required tracheal intubation were studied. The vi
ew at laryngoscopy with the levering laryngoscope blade in the neutral
and elevated positions was recorded. In patients in whom there was a
Cormack and Lehane grade 3 view of the larynx with the blade in the ne
utral position, elevation of the levered tip of the blade significantl
y improved the visualisation of the larynx. In patients where the view
of the larynx was grade 1 or 2 with the blade in the neutral position
, elevation of the levered tip often (23%) resulted in the view being
impaired. This was not a clinical problem as the blade could simply be
returned to the neutral position. The levering laryngoscope is a usef
ul additional aid to laryngeal visualisation.