A 52-year-old male patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis presents for elective abdominal surgery. On airway assessment, he has a Mallampati score of 3, limited neck extension due to cervical spine involvement, and an inter-incisor distance of 3 cm. After induction with propofol and succinylcholine, the anesthesiologist attempts oral intubation but encounters difficulty visualizing the vocal cords (Cormack-Lehane Grade 3). What is the most appropriate next step in management?