The Difficult Airway (DRAFT)

The difficult airway invariably presents itself to all airway managers and is mostly unpredictable in the context of rapid response team (RRT) calls. A multiprofessional difficult airway team (DAT) that could be called for airway emergencies is likely to reduce complications and death. The DAT is organized with predefined roles for each member so that rapid intervention occurs during the emergency. Priority is given to oxygenation throughout the airway response. The anticipated and unanticipated difficult airways should be approached differently and often require medication adjuncts that should be carefully chosen. Airway devices such as the video laryngoscope and the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) have dramatically improved the ability to secure an airway quickly. Finally, it is important to recognize when a surgical airway is needed in the setting of the RRT calls.