In Reply:—
We appreciate the comments of Drs. Wu and Chou, the inventors of the WuScope device. Although we have found the WuScope to be a valuable tool for intubating the tracheas of patients with anatomic risk factors for difficult intubation, such as cervical spine injury, 1,2there are technical limitations to using the device, such as blood and secretions in the airway (e.g. , in trauma cases) and anatomic derangements of the airway, such as abscess and tumor.
Use of any intubating device is not foolproof; accidental esophageal intubation can occur even in the best of hands, and the physician must always have a backup plan (or two), should the original plan fail.
We are certainly eager to have a portable battery-operated WuScope for use in the intensive care unit, in the emergency department, and in the operating room.