Conventional direct laryngoscopy with the curved Macintosh blade is a fundamental skill for all anaesthetists and has been the cornerstone of airway management for many years. This technique relies upon the operator aligning the oro-pharyngo-laryngeal structures and inserting a tracheal tube into the trachea under direct vision. However, there is a recognized failure rate with this technique, thus alternative techniques for tracheal intubation are available and should be considered.
