Method and apparatus for ventilation / oxygenation during guided insertion of an endotracheal tube

An apparatus for resuscitating a patient and guiding insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea, said apparatus comprising:

• a face mask to cover a patient's mouth, the face mask having a face mask port and a ventilation port allowing a flow of air/oxygen into the face mask to resuscitate the patient;
• a guide removably extending through the face mask port having a distal portion for insertion into a patient's mouth and hypopharynx to direct insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea;
• a fiber optic probe insertable through an endotracheal tube;
• and
• a stabilizer removably attachable to the fiber optic probe, said stabilizer having dimensions sufficiently large to push the endotracheal tube forward as the fiber optic probe is advanced along the guide and into the patient's trachea.

A method for resuscitating a patient and guiding insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea comprising:

• placing a face mask over a patient's mouth, the face mask having a removable guide extending posteriorly from the face mask allowing insertion of an endotracheal tube through the face mask and along the guide into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx, the face mask further having a ventilation port allowing a flow of air/oxygen into the face mask;
• resuscitating the patient by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the ventilation port into the face mask and patient's airway;
• attaching a stabilizer at a desired position on a fiber optic probe;
• inserting the fiber optic probe into an endotracheal tube until the stabilizer abuts the proximal end of the endotracheal tube;
• advancing the fiber optic probe so that the endotracheal tube advances along the guide and into the patient's trachea;
• removing the face mask over the proximal end of the endotracheal tube while leaving the endotracheal tube and fiber optic probe in place within the patient's trachea;
• removing the fiber optic probe from the endotracheal tube;
• and
• ventilating the patient through the endotracheal tube.