[Light stylet--an alternative when intubation is difficult].

Using a light stylet, it is possible to perform oro- and nasotracheal intubation without the need of visualizing the larynx or extending the patient's neck. This makes the light stylet a valuable alternative when conventional intubation with a laryngoscope is difficult or impossible. Intubation with the light stylet is easy to learn, is relatively atraumatic, has an acceptable success rate and is fast enough to compete with laryngoscopic intubation. The equipment is inexpensive. We describe successful intubation with the light stylet in four patients. Two had unstable neck fractures, one had previously been difficult to intubate, and one had trismus.