The traumatic airway: the anesthesiologist's role in the emergency room

An approach to the airway is addressed in Table 1. A summary of induction/NMB agents and doses is given on Table 2; indications for the different agents are noted on Table 3. The central pharmacological issue is not that any one drug is universally preferred over another. Rather, it is key that one develop a thoughtful rationale for the drugs used, and a plan to get out of trouble if one is suddenly in the sinking situation of a patient with a difficult airway who cannot breathe on his or her own. The backup plan might involve the use of BVM ventilation, blind digital intubation, fiberoptic bronchoscope-aided intubation, retrograde techniques, light wand intubation, laryngeal mask airway techniques, posterior pharyngeal endotracheal tube placement ventilation, or a surgical airway. Most of these approaches are reviewed elsewhere.