• Brian T McMullin, Joel H Blumin, and Albert L Merati.
• Division of Laryngology and Professional Voice, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226-3522, USA.
• Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007 Nov 1;137(5):798-802.

ObjectiveTo understand risk and possible mechanisms of thermal injury to the tongue during suspension laryngoscopy.Study Design And SettingTongue injury was noted following suspension laryngoscopy in a cluster of cases; the findings raised suspicion for thermal injury. To characterize the potential for thermal injury, a lighted laryngoscope was placed in contact with samples of tongue. Tissue heating was recorded over time at fixed distances from the light carrier within a laryngoscope. Comparisons were made between two light sources and carriers.ResultsMaximal tissue heating using a newer-model light source and new carrier was 16.7 degrees F immediately beneath the light carrier tip and 19.8 degrees F at 1 cm distal to the carrier tip. Other combinations of an older source and carriers failed to raise temperatures. Heating up to 10.7 degrees F occurred with the new source and an older carrier.Conclusion And SignificanceTissue heating may occur from contact with operative laryngoscopes. This is an important patient safety issue in laryngology.

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