Airway Management During the Last 100 Years.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Airway management is critical for patient safety during medical procedures.
• Significant advancements in airway devices and techniques have occurred over the past century.
• Improving airway management safety remains a key research focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development of airway management tools and techniques over the last 100 years.
• To highlight key innovations that have improved airway management safety.
• To provide an overview of the evolution of airway management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of scientific literature and medical device development.
• Chronological analysis of key innovations in airway management.
• Identification of major milestones in laryngoscopy, supraglottic devices, and difficult airway algorithms.

Main Results:

• Modern laryngoscopy emerged in the 1940s.
• Fiberoptic laryngoscopy was developed in the 1960s.
• Supraglottic airway devices became prominent in the 1980s.
• Algorithms for managing difficult airways were introduced in the 1990s.
• Video-laryngoscopy emerged in the 2000s.

Conclusions:

• The last century has seen substantial progress in airway management technologies and strategies.
• These advancements have collectively contributed to improved patient safety in airway management.
• Continued innovation in airway devices and techniques is essential for further safety enhancements.