title: Management of the difficult pediatric airway: efficacy of airway exchange catheters with rigid bronchoscopy.
abstract: The airway exchange catheter can be used both to ventilate the lungs and to act as a guide for reintubation in patients of all ages who have a tenuous airway. We report the case of a 2-year-old boy with an anatomically challenging airway in whom both an airway exchange catheter and a rigid bronchoscope were used to visualize and maintain a secure airway. We also review the literature as it pertains to the management of the difficult pediatric airway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC 29425, USA. mohyuddi@musc.edu
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohyuddin
authors.forename: Cecillie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sulman
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002404:Catheterization; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000601:surgery; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014068:Tonsillectomy