The Vortex model: A different approach to the difficult airway

Airway management is an essential area in anaesthesia, and anaesthesiologists are considered the most expert professionals to manage airway tasks. However, complications related to inadequate airway management remain the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. Algorithmic strategy to solve difficulties fails, due to several factors related to its structure and clinical application. The Vortex Approach has emerged as a response to the limitations found in the algorithmic strategy of managing the difficult airway, by using a cognitive aid strategy to reduce cognitive load and fixation error. This new strategy may represent a solution to the elusive problem of the challenging airway and reduce the complications rate.