[Clinical management of the difficult airway]

Difficult airway management is among the key requirements in routine anaesthesia. Failures to secure the airways resulting in a "Cannot intubate, Cannot ventilate" situation can drastically increase morbidity and mortality of patients within a very short time. Therefore, an algorithm for management of the expected and unexpected difficult airway describing the sequence of various procedures, adapted to internal standards and to techniques that are available, has to be provided by each anaesthesia department. This not only facilitates the preparation of equipment and the training of personnel, but also ensures efficient decision making under time pressure.