Airway tube exchanger techniques in morbidly obese patients
1Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Abstract:
Morbidly obese patients may present a challenge during airway management. When airway tube exchange is required, it can even be more challenging than the primary intubation. With the increasing prevalence of morbid obesity over the years, there will be increasing numbers of these patients presenting for surgical procedures, including ones that require endotracheal tube exchanges. It is therefore important for anesthesiologists to be familiar with options and limitations of the airway tube exchanger techniques.
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