A Synopsis of Contemporary Anesthesia Airway Management

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care

Background:

• Despite advances in airway management devices, airway-related morbidity and mortality persist.
• Current practices highlight the occurrence of airway disasters even with new equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the strategic escalation in utilizing advanced airway equipment.
• To provide guidance on the application of specific tools like the gum elastic bougie and video-laryngoscope (VL).
• To emphasize the importance of updated techniques for managing difficult airways.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of the gum elastic bougie and video-laryngoscope (VL) for airway management.
• Recommendation for the combined use of VL with a flexible intubation scope (FIS) in difficult airway scenarios.
• Emphasis on awake or spontaneously breathing intubation techniques.

Main Results:

• Advanced airway equipment has demonstrably reduced patient morbidity and mortality.
• The combined use of VL and FIS is presented as a superior strategy for difficult airway intubations.
• Blind intubation techniques are discouraged in contemporary practice.

Conclusions:

• Prudent escalation of advanced airway equipment is crucial for preventing airway disasters.
• The combined VL and FIS approach offers enhanced safety for both awake and asleep intubations in difficult airways.
• Preparation for emergency cricothyroidotomy is essential for managing potential airway obstruction during intubation attempts.