[Management of Pediatric Airway in Anesthesia]

Airway management is a major competence of clinical anesthesia. Knowledge of available materials and skills in the use of specific methods and techniques are essential and should be trained routinely. In 2011 the scientific working group in pediatric anesthesia (WAKKA) of the German Society for anesthesia and intensive care medicine (DGAI) published a treatment recommendation for the management of the unexpected difficult pediatric airway. Furthermore, a recommendation for the management of the expected difficult pediatric airway is currently being compiled and the draft is available on the WAKKA homepage. For the airway management in pediatric patients, special materials, techniques, individual and institutional expertise must be present. This article presents a selection of materials, methods and techniques of the treatment recommendations for the management of a difficult airway.