Management choices for the difficult airway by anesthesiologists in Canada

This study assessed difficult airway management, training and equipment availability among Canadian anesthesiologists.

A postal survey of active members of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society was conducted in 2000. Respondents chose an induction condition and intubation technique for each of ten difficult airway scenarios. Availability of airway devices in their workplaces was assessed. Chi square analyses were used to compare groups. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Eight hundred and thirty-three of 1702 (49%) surveys were returned. Staff comprised 88%, and residents 12%. Fifty-five percent had attended a difficult airway workshop within five years and 30% received mannequin airway training during residency. Direct laryngoscopy (48%) or fibreoptic bronchoscopy (34%) were the preferred techniques for intubation. For laryngeal, subglottic and unstable cervical spine scenarios, awake intubation with fibreoptic bronchoscope was most widely chosen. Asleep intubation with direct laryngoscopy was most commonly selected for trauma scenarios. Availability of difficult airway equipment varied between regions and types of hospital. Cricothyroidotomy equipment and difficult airway carts were not universally available.

Our survey assessed current preferences, training and equipment availability for the difficult airway amongst Canadian anesthesiologists. Direct laryngoscopy and fibreoptic bronchoscopy were the preferred technique for intubation despite widespread availability of newer airway equipment. Lack of certain essential airway equipment and difficult airway training should be addressed.