title: Conquering the difficult airway.
abstract: Every medic should practice regularly for the inevitable difficult airway case. Practice should include review of the causes of difficult airways, as well as skill practice. Having a preassembled airway kit can make your response to an unexpected difficult situation easier. Of all the devices mentioned, the bougie is the airway practitioner's best friend. Using the BURP technique, if not contraindicated, together with the bougie will enable you to intubate many difficult patients with confidence. Remember, "If your patient cannot breathe, nothing else matters.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Gandy
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States