Acta Scientific Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2582-0931)

Research Article Volume 5 Issue 10

Indirect (Mirror) Laryngoscopy: Valuable Laryngological Skill Going into Extinction?

James E Toblh1, Olusola A Sogebi2, Taiwo O Adedejl3* and Theophilus O Esan4

1Associate Professor and Head of Otorhinolaryngology Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology/Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
2Consultant, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria
3Consultant, Otorhinolaryngology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology/Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
4Otorhinolaryngology Department, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Taiwo O Adedeji, Consultant, Otorhinolaryngology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology/Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.

Received:July 28, 2021 Published: September 22, 2021

Citation: Taiwo O Adedejl., et al. “Indirect (Mirror) Laryngoscopy: Valuable Laryngological Skill Going into Extinction?". Acta Scientific Microbiology 5.10 (2021): 104-109.

Abstract

Background: Indirect mirror laryngoscopy despite its relevance in Otorhinolaryngology practice most especially in the sub-Saharan where technology is still not readily available in most centres, appears to be going into extinction.

Methods: Two series of retrospective study were done, First series were patients that underwent indirect mirror laryngoscopy of larynx at a period when laryngeal endoscopy was not available (2011-2015) and the second series were patients that went through laryngeal examination when facilities of laryngeal endoscopy were available(2016-till June,2021). Questionnaires were also administered to the Otolaryngologists (consultants and residents in training)in this centre and three other sister departments in other teaching hospitals (one centre in Uk) to find out their skill and which of the two types of laryngeal examination they prefer and reasons for it. This research was done in a resource limited environment.

Results: In the first series, a total of 72 patients that needed laryngeal examination all had mirror indirect laryngoscopy (IDL) because there was no alternative. For the series 2 study, there were 37 IDL patients and 73 endoscopic patients. There ages and gender distributions were similar among the three groups (M:F were 1:2.1. 1:1.18, 1:1.09 respectively). Laryngitis was the most common specific pathological finding (13.9%), IDL was not successful in 5.6%and 4.2%had over hanging epiglottis. Most patients with hoarseness had laryngeal tumour (33%,) and laryngitis (28.6%,) (X2 = 48.923, p < 0.001). fourteen doctors participated in the study, six were specialists while eight were resident doctors. Ten otolaryngologist still have relevant IDL skillful while four lack adequate skill. All respondent prefer laryngeal examination using endoscope and only 3 (21.4%) still carry out IDL procedure mostly done when there is no electricity.

Conclusion: Examination of the larynx through Indirect laryngoscopy appears to be going into extinction in Otorhinolaryngological practice because of advent of endoscopic facility. The simplicity, non- energy depended, affordability, availability and ability to insulate the surgeon from undue medico-legal tussles makes it invaluable especially in developing countries of the world. It is recommended that every medical student rotating through ORL posting and otolaryngologists in training should be encouraged to master its use as an alternative in cases where scopes are not readily available.

Keywords: Laryngeal Evaluation; Indirect Mirror Laryngoscopy; Valuable Skill; Resource Limited Environment

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Copyright: © 2021 Taiwo O Adedejl., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


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