title: The difficult airway.
abstract: Securing the airway in a dyspneic patient is a challenging task because of the myriad causes and presentations. Initial assessment may demonstrate factors indicative of upper airway abnormalities; however, they may not be specific nor sensitive enough to accurately predict difficult intubation. A well-equipped airway cart must be immediately available. A standardized escalating approach to secure the airway in a difficult situation begins with a rapid sequence of attempts at standard intubation, followed by attempted tube introduction over a bougie or using a flexible endoscope or laryngeal mask, and finally surgical interventions including cricothyrotomy or tracheotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Liess
authors.forename: Troy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Scheidt
authors.forename: Jerry W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Templer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000379:methods