AIRWAY MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES IN OBSTETRICS.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Obstetrics
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Pregnancy-induced anatomical and physiological changes complicate airway management compared to non-obstetric patients.
• Difficult airway management is critical, as inability to ventilate or oxygenate is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality during cesarean section under general anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and analyze contemporary guidelines and algorithms for managing difficult airways in obstetric patients.
• To highlight the importance of effective difficult airway management as a key component of anesthesiology practice in obstetrics.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of modern difficult airway management guidelines specific to pregnant women.
• Examination of algorithms for various difficult airway scenarios: facemask ventilation, supraglottic devices, endotracheal intubation, and emergency surgical airways (cricothyrotomy/tracheotomy).
• Assessment of decision-making strategies for situations where oxygenation and ventilation cannot be achieved.

Main Results:

• Guidelines detail procedures for difficult facemask ventilation, supraglottic device use, endotracheal intubation challenges, and emergency cricothyrotomy/tracheotomy.
• Algorithms provide structured approaches and equipment recommendations for each difficult airway variant.
• Croatian anesthesiologists possess the necessary equipment and experience for difficult airway management in obstetric departments.

Conclusions:

• Modern difficult airway management algorithms are applicable and adaptable to Croatian obstetric practice.
• Integration of these advanced algorithms into resident training curricula is recommended to enhance obstetric anesthesia safety.