Advances in emergent airway management

The threatened airway is, fortunately, an infrequent occurrence in sports medicine, but one that requires up-to-date knowledge and skill in order to be managed in an effective and timely manner. Sports medicine physicians are responsible for having the education and tools required to secure a compromised airway in any setting. Often, careful positioning of the athlete with simple maneuvers learned through basic life support training is all that is necessary to secure the airway. At other times, however, more advanced techniques (including the use of advanced airways such as endotracheal tubes, laryngeal mask airways, esophageal tracheal combitubes, and surgical airways) will need to be utilized. This article offers physicians some perspective on the newest innovations that exist in airway management in comparison with the standard equipment and techniques. It is up to sports medicine physicians to develop treatment algorithms they are comfortable with, should they encounter an airway emergency.