Survey of Current Difficult Airway Management Practice

Even for the most experienced anesthesiologists "can't ventilate can't intubate" scenario in difficult airway management is challenging, and although rare it is life-threatening.

The aim of this survey was to analyse the current practice of difficult airway management at our University teaching hospital.

A ten-question-survey was conducted in the Tertiary University Teaching Hospital "Mother Theresa", Clinic for Anesthesia, Reanimation and Intensive Care. The survey included demographic data, experience in training anaesthesia, practice in management of anticipated and non-anticipated difficult airway scenario, preferable equipment and knowledge of guidelines and protocols. Responses were noted, evaluated and analysed with the SPSS statistical program.

The overall response rate was very good; 94.5% answered the survey. During the assessment of the level of comfort with diverse airway equipment, there was diversity of answers due the experience of anaesthesia training, although the most frequent technique among all responders for anticipated difficult intubation was video laryngoscopy (48%). As for non-anticipated difficult intubation when conventional techniques failed to secure the airway most of the responders answered that they used supra-gothic airway device - laryngeal mask (38%) as a rescue measure.

Airway assessment, adequate training, experience, and availability of essential equipment are the pillars of successful airway management.