Tube Time

We need an airway…
No time to lose.
Fevered prep, snapping blade.
Plans B,C,and D rehearsed silently.
D is for “Dreaded”.
Drugs flow on command,
order and readback.
The body relaxes, eyelids quiver.
Slack jaw opened,
and laryngoscope slides in,
levering open tongue and throat.
Collective breath held.

Squinting eye sees mucus, blood, vomitus.
A hissing suction probe drains it out,
and the familiar landmarks appear.
The tube pushes through
slack white vocal cords.
The wire stylet is drawn out,
the balloon cuff inflates,
and the CO2 detector flashes
Success!
The bag is squeezed,
the chest rises.
And we all breathe again.