“I have no intention of following the algorithm down to a surgical airway … can’t we just do a spinal?” Anonymous Resident Key Points Decision bias can be reduced by considering each aspect of airway management separately. The utility of…
KEY POINTS Poor airway assessment may contribute to poor patient outcomes. An airway history and physical examination should be performed in all patients undergoing airway management. Relevant diagnostic studies should be reviewed. No single test reliably predicts difficult mask ventilation…
Key Points The inability to manage a difficult airway (DA) is responsible for a large proportion of deaths and morbidity directly attributable to anesthesia. While it is important to have common definitions for common problems, the literature continues to report…
Key Points Laryngoscopy can variably induce bradycardia (via the vagal nerve) or hypertension (HTN) and tachycardia (mediated by the cardioaccelerator nerves and sympathetic chain ganglia). The former is most common in infants and children, whereas the latter is typical for…
KEY POINTS The selection of pharmacologic agents should consider the effects on airway patency, airway reflexes, and airway reactivity. Delivery of inhalational drugs should be optimized to prevent inefficient administration, and dedicated devices may be necessary to increase the amount…
Key Points The ventilated gas that participates in gas exchange is referred to as alveolar ventilation (V˙ a ). The volume of gas that is wasted is referred to as dead space (V d ). The aggregate total of dead…
Key Points An important formula that quantifies the relationship of pressure, flow, and resistance in laminar flow systems is given by the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. This law states that the fluid flow rate through a horizontal straight tube of uniform bore…
Key Points Ultrasonography (USG) has many advantages for imaging the airway: It is safe, quick, repeatable, portable, widely available, and gives real-time dynamic images. The cricothyroid membrane (CTM) can easily be identified by USG prior to management of a difficult…
Key Points Airway practitioners should be acquainted with common imaging modalities. A review of available imaging studies should always be included as part of the preoperative assessment of the airway. The most useful imaging studies to review include neck, spine, and…
Key Points Cricoarytenoid arthritis can lead to airway difficulties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. To diagnose vocal cord dysfunction, it is necessary to examine the position of the vocal cords during inspiration and phonation. The recurrent…