Difficult Airway Algorithm 1. Assess the likelihood and clinical impact of basic management problems: • Difficulty with patient cooperation or consent • Difficult mask ventilation • Difficult supraglottic airway placement • Difficult laryngoscopy • Difficult intubation • Difficult surgical airway access 2. Actively pursue opportunities to deliver supplemental oxygen throughout the process of difficult airway management. 3. Consider the relative merits and feasibility of basic management choices: • Awake intubation vs. intubation after induction of general anesthesia • Non-invasive technique vs. invasive techniques for the initial approach to intubation • Video-assisted laryngoscopy as an initial approach to intubation • Preservation vs. ablation of spontaneous ventilation 4. Develop primary and alternative strategies #Difficult #airway #algorithm #Anesthesiology #Anesthesia #CriticalCare #Management
