Special devices and techniques

Management of the difficult airway remains one of the most challenging tasks for anesthesia care providers. Most airway problems can be solved with relatively simple devices and techniques, but clinical judgment borne of experience is crucial to their application. As with any intubation technique, practice and routine use improve performance and may reduce the likelihood of complications. Each airway device has unique properties that may be advantageous in certain situations, yet limiting in others. Specific airway management techniques are greatly influenced by individual disease and anatomy, and successful management may require combinations of devices and techniques.