It is a common misconception that you need to be completely asleep and sedated in order to be intubated. That is patently false. With good local anesthesia, intubation can be performed on a wide-awake patient without any sedation. Take a look at this video where an anesthesiologist instructor essentially intubates himself in front of an audience... I didn't make it, but I wish I did... This little-used technique is a very important skill to have because in certain dire situations w…