The Physiologic Difficult Airway

The physiologically difficult airway is a complex situation that demands knowledge, skills, and attitude of the health care team. It is important to understand the comorbidities of the patients, and the treatment should be individualized following the best evidence. Many conditions can contribute to the physiologically difficult airway scenario, and efforts must be done to anticipate and mitigate the risk of cardiovascular collapse during or after intubation and mechanical ventilation with positive pressure. Safe airway management requires situational awareness. Moreover, diligence regarding adequate patient evaluation, monitoring, oxygenation, hemodynamic management, drugs, and technique selection is imperative.