Intubation by use of the light wand: experience in 253 patients.

Use of the light wand for 253 intubations in a variety of clinical settings is described. Twenty patients were successfully intubated by the light wand method who had failed to be intubated by direct laryngoscopy. Three failures were noted on patients who weighed more than 350 pounds each. Both nasal and oral endotracheal intubations were accomplished with minimal morbidity.