影像喉頭鏡是用於氣管插管時取代傳統喉頭鏡的利器。影像喉頭鏡在插管過程中，藉由內建之高解析度攝影機，將喉頭、會厭和聲門構造影像化並顯像於液晶螢幕上，使醫師清楚觀察插管過程。此儀器有助於臨床麻醉或急救時的常規和困難氣管插管處理。此病例探討一小臉症病患，於麻醉術前評估並未顯示有任何較困難氣管插管的跡象。然而，在實際臨床操作上，卻因口腔內骨頭結構的改變，使我們遇到了非預期的困難氣管插管，而影像喉頭鏡在使用上也受到了限制。對於先天性臉部畸形的患者欲進行氣管插管，我們建議還是使用纖維內視鏡來輔助有絕對的優勢。

The GlideScope videolaryngoscope is a relatively new intubating device. It was designed to provide a view of the glottis in many circumstances including difficult intubations. We report a limitation of the GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope that was detected during tracheal intubation of a patient with hemifacial microsomia. An unexpectedly difficult intubation occurred due to the limited intraoral space, and we were unable to place the blade of the GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope in the correct position. Finally, intubation was successfully carried out with a fiberscope. In conclusion, for patients who have a malformation of the face such as hemifacial microsomia, a flexible video laryngoscope like a fiberscope might be superior to the GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope.