title: Surgical airway.
abstract: Close to 3% of all intubation attempts are considered difficult airways, for which a plan for a surgical airway should be considered. Our article provides an overview of the different types of surgical airways. This article provides a comprehensive review of the main types of surgical airways, relevant anatomy, necessary equipment, indications and contraindications, preparation and positioning, technique, complications, and tips for management. It is important to remember that the placement of a surgical airway is a lifesaving procedure and should be considered in any setting when one "cannot intubate, cannot ventilate".
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Sapna A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Tanya K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Meyer
keywords: Cricothyrotomy; surgical airway; tracheotomy
references.citation: Laryngoscope. 1999 Nov;109(11):1766-9
references.pmid: 10569404
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1996 Aug;110(8):723-6
references.pmid: 8869602
references.citation: Laryngoscope. 1992 Feb;102(2):157-62
references.pmid: 1738287
references.citation: J Emerg Med. 2002 Aug;23(2):131-40
references.pmid: 12359280
references.citation: Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2010 Mar;18(1):51-60
references.pmid: 20176326
references.citation: Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1952 Dec;61(4):1039-45
references.pmid: 13008331
references.citation: Proc R Soc Med. 1975 Jun;68(6):347-56
references.pmid: 1208527
references.citation: Proc R Soc Med. 1972 Apr;65(4):401-4
references.pmid: 4554253
references.citation: J Neurosurg. 1955 Jul;12(4):428-31
references.pmid: 14392499
references.citation: J Ir Coll Physicians Surg. 2001 Oct;30(4):237-8
references.pmid: 11908519
references.citation: Am J Emerg Med. 2008 Jul;26(6):738.e1
references.pmid: 18606350
references.citation: Pediatr Emerg Care. 1999 Jun;15(3):224-6
references.pmid: 10389963
references.citation: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011 Mar;144(3):376-80
references.pmid: 21493199
references.citation: Laryngoscope. 2008 Sep;118(9):1597-606
references.pmid: 18596476
references.citation: Laryngoscope. 2012 Jan;122(1):38-45
references.pmid: 22183627
references.citation: Int Anesthesiol Clin. 1994 Winter;32(1):27-46
references.pmid: 8144253
references.citation: Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2013 Feb;42(2):204-8
references.pmid: 23265756
references.citation: Intensive Care Med. 1991;17(5):252-3
references.pmid: 1939867
references.citation: Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1982 Jul-Aug;91(4 Pt 1):437-9
references.pmid: 7114727
references.citation: J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2002 Feb;43(1):113-21
references.pmid: 11803342
references.citation: Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2010 Mar;18(1):39-50
references.pmid: 20176325
references.citation: Arch Surg. 2010 Jan;145(1):87-91
references.pmid: 20083759
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1992 Sep;106(9):773-9
references.pmid: 1431512
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1999 Jul;113(7):624-7
references.pmid: 10605557
references.citation: J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2011 Aug;69(8):2198-203
references.pmid: 21601339