Modification of an Airway Training Mannequin to Teach Engagement of the Hyoepiglottic Ligament.

Audience: This airway trainer modification is designed to instruct all levels of training in emergency medicine in order to familiarize trainees with airway anatomy and obtain superior views of the glottic inlet.

Introduction: During intubation with a standard geometry laryngoscope, such as the Macintosh blade, placement of the distal end of the blade within the vallecula and engagement of the median glossoepiglottic fold, also referred to as the midline vallecular fold (MVF), has long been championed by experts in airway management for its ability to improve glottic inlet visualization. This notion was further supported by the recent publication of a retrospective video review by Driver et al.