Management of the difficult airway: alternative airway techniques and adjuncts

Rapid-sequence intubation using conventional laryngoscopic technique remains the standard of airway management in emergency medicine and continues to have a success rate of approximately 98%. Preparation and proper intubation technique must be optimized at the initial attempt using direct laryngoscopy. Failure causes multiple repeated attempts, leading to a failed airway. Each repeated attempt increases the likelihood of bleeding, oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal edema, and malposition, causing decreased visualization of the glottic opening, equipment failure, and hypoxia. Preparation must be an ongoing process. Faulty suction, no oxygen source, choice of the wrong laryngoscopic blade or ETT, poor light source, or misplaced equipment can domino into mechanical failure. Intubation equipment stations must be inventoried constantly, organized, and kept simple in their layout to decrease confusion during selection. Medication for sedation and paralysis should be readily available and not kept distant from the intubation station in a medication-dispensing unit that would require time for acquisition. Proper positioning of the patient remains paramount for alignment of the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axis to provide optimal visualization of the vocal cords. Proper technique during insertion of the laryngoscope blade in the oral cavity for displacement of the tongue must be ensured. Without proper technique, even with proper positioning, the glottic opening cannot be visualized. Laryngeal pressure to maneuver the larynx into position should be exerted initially by the laryngoscopist's right hand and, when in view, maintained by an assistant to free the laryngoscopist's hand for ETT insertion. With preparation and proper technique, the first attempt is the best attempt, and the vicious cycle of multiple attempts and complications will be averted.