Today I learned a new technique to open a patient's mouth one handed as you prepare to maneuver the laryngoscope blade in the patient's pharynx. Then use your dominant hand (which you are keeping free for placing the tube in a moment) and place your thumb against your middle finger, as though you are going to snap your fingers. You then let your fingers slid past each other onto the patient's lips, such that your thumb is now pressing down on the lower lip and your middle finger is pressing up on the upper lip. With a sort of scissoring action, you can now open the moth one handed to allow access to your off hand which is holding the laryngoscope blade (basically a fancy tongue depressor with a built in flashlight and handle).
This was all part of our first weekly PICU fellow lecture series. I love that my lectures have become so focused onto things that I actually find interesting and useful - a far cry from required topics like histology in med school, or newborn care in residency.
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