Theseguidelines provide a strategy to manageunanticipated difficulty with tracheal intubation. Theyare foundedon published evidence. Where evidence is lacking, they have been directed by feedback from members of the Difficult Airway Society and based on expert opinion. These guidelines have been informed by advances in the understanding of crisis management; they emphasize the recognition and declaration of difficulty during airway management. A simplified, single algorithm now covers unanticipated difficulties in both routine intubation and rapid sequence induction. Planning for failed intubation should form part of the pre-induction briefing, particularly for urgent surgery. Emphasis is placed on assessment, preparation, positioning, preoxygenation, maintenance of oxygenation, and minimizing trauma from airway interventions. It is recommended that the number of airway interventions are limited, and blind techniques using a bougie or through supraglottic airway devices have been superseded by video- or fibre-optically guided intubation. If tracheal intubation fails, supraglottic airway devices are recommended to provide a route for oxygenation while reviewing how to proceed. Second-generation devices have advantages and are recommended. When both tracheal intubation and supraglottic airway device insertion have failed, waking the patient is the default option. If at this stage, face-mask oxygenation is impossible in the presence of muscle relaxation, cricothyroidotomy should follow immediately. Scalpel cricothyroidotomy is recommended as the preferred rescue technique and should be practised by all anaesthetists. The plans outlined are designed to be simple and easy to follow. They should be regularly rehearsed and made familiar to the whole theatre team.

/pdf/difficult-airway-society-2015-guidelines-for-management-of-1d6l131z3j.pdf

Difficult Airway Society 2015 guidelines for management of unanticipated difficult intubation in adults

Airway management complications causing temporary patient harm are common, but serious injury is rare. Because most airways are easy, most complications occur in easy airways: these complications can and do lead to harm and death. Because these events are rare, most of our learning comes from large litigation and critical incident databases that help identify patterns and areas where care can be improved: but both have limitations. The recent 4th National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Difficult Airway Society provides important detailed information and our best estimates of the incidence of major airway complications. A significant proportion of airway complications occur in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments, and these more frequently cause patient harm/death and are associated with suboptimal care. Hypoxia is the commonest cause of airway-related deaths. Obesity markedly increases risk of airway complications. Pulmonary aspiration remains the leading cause of airway-related anaesthetic deaths, most cases having identifiable risk factors. Unrecognized oesophageal intubation is not of only historical interest and is entirely avoidable. All airway management techniques fail and prediction scores are rather poor, so many failures are unanticipated. Avoidance of airway complications requires institutional and individual preparedness, careful assessment, good planning and judgement, good communication and teamwork, knowledge and use of a range of techniques and devices, and a willingness to stop performing techniques when they are failing. Analysis of major airway complications identifies areas where practice is suboptimal; research to improve understanding, prevention, and management of such complications remains an anaesthetic priority.

Complications and failure of airway management

The Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association and Difficult Airway Society have developed the first national obstetric guidelines for the safe management of difficult and failed tracheal intubation during general anaesthesia. They comprise four algorithms and two tables. A master algorithm provides an overview. Algorithm 1 gives a framework on how to optimise a safe general anaesthetic technique in the obstetric patient, and emphasises: planning and multidisciplinary communication; how to prevent the rapid oxygen desaturation seen in pregnant women by advocating nasal oxygenation and mask ventilation immediately after induction; limiting intubation attempts to two; and consideration of early release of cricoid pressure if difficulties are encountered. Algorithm 2 summarises the management after declaring failed tracheal intubation with clear decision points, and encourages early insertion of a (preferably second-generation) supraglottic airway device if appropriate. Algorithm 3 covers the management of the 'can't intubate, can't oxygenate' situation and emergency front-of-neck airway access, including the necessity for timely perimortem caesarean section if maternal oxygenation cannot be achieved. Table 1 gives a structure for assessing the individual factors relevant in the decision to awaken or proceed should intubation fail, which include: urgency related to maternal or fetal factors; seniority of the anaesthetist; obesity of the patient; surgical complexity; aspiration risk; potential difficulty with provision of alternative anaesthesia; and post-induction airway device and airway patency. This decision should be considered by the team in advance of performing a general anaesthetic to make a provisional plan should failed intubation occur. The table is also intended to be used as a teaching tool to facilitate discussion and learning regarding the complex nature of decision-making when faced with a failed intubation. Table 2 gives practical considerations of how to awaken or proceed with surgery. The background paper covers recommendations on drugs, new equipment, teaching and training.

/pdf/obstetric-anaesthetists-association-and-difficult-airway-4p42qzete6.pdf

Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association and Difficult Airway Society guidelines for the management of difficult and failed tracheal intubation in obstetrics

To determined whether the implementation of an intubation management protocol leads to the reduction of intubation-related complications in the intensive care unit (ICU). Two-phase, prospective, multicenter controlled study. Three medical-surgical ICUs in two university hospitals. Two hundred three consecutive ICU patients required 244 intubations. All intubations performed during two consecutive phases (a 6-month quality control phase followed by a 6-month intervention phase based on the implementation of an ICU intubation bundle management protocol) were evaluated. The ten bundle components were: preoxygenation with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, presence of two operators, rapid sequence induction, cricoid pressure, capnography, protective ventilation, fluid loading, preparation and early administration of sedation and vasopressor use if needed. The primary end points were the incidence of life-threatening complications occurring within 60 min after intubation (cardiac arrest or death, severe cardiovascular collapse and hypoxemia). Other complications (mild to moderate) were also evaluated. Baseline characteristics, including demographic data and reason for intubation (mainly acute respiratory failure), were similar in the two phases. The intubation procedure in the intervention phase (n = 121) was associated with significant decreases in both life-threatening complications (21 vs. 34%, p = 0.03) and other complications (9 vs. 21%, p = 0.01) compared to the control phase (n = 123). The implementation of an intubation management protocol can reduce immediate severe life-threatening complications associated with intubation of ICU patients.

/pdf/an-intervention-to-decrease-complications-related-to-ga5liup967.pdf

An intervention to decrease complications related to endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit: a prospective, multiple-center study.

Awake tracheal intubation has a high success rate and a favourable safety profile but is underused in cases of anticipated difficult airway management. These guidelines are a comprehensive document to support decision making, preparation and practical performance of awake tracheal intubation. We performed a systematic review of the literature seeking all of the available evidence for each element of awake tracheal intubation in order to make recommendations. In the absence of high-quality evidence, expert consensus and a Delphi study were used to formulate recommendations. We highlight key areas of awake tracheal intubation in which specific recommendations were made, which included: indications; procedural setup; checklists; oxygenation; airway topicalisation; sedation; verification of tracheal tube position; complications; management of unsuccessful awake tracheal intubation; post-tracheal intubation management; consent; and training. We recognise that there are a range of techniques and regimens that may be effective and one such example technique is included. Breaking down the key practical elements of awake tracheal intubation into sedation, topicalisation, oxygenation and performance might help practitioners to plan, perform and address complications. These guidelines aim to support clinical practice and help lower the threshold for performing awake tracheal intubation when indicated.

Difficult Airway Society guidelines for awake tracheal intubation (ATI) in adults.

Members A. ACCORSI, E. ADRARIO, F. AGRÒ, G. AMICUCCI, M. ANTONELLI, F. AZZERI, S. BARONCINI, G. BETTELLI, C. CAFAGGI, D. CATTANO, E. CHINELLI, U. CORBANESE, R. CORSO, A. DELLA PUPPA, A. DI FILIPPO, E. FACCO, R. FAVARO, R. FAVERO, G. FROVA, F. GIUNTA, G. GIURATI, F. GIUSTI, A. GUARINO, E. IANNUZZI, G. IVANI, D. MAZZON, M. MENARINI, G. MERLI, E. MONDELLO, S. MUTTINI, G. NARDI, A. PIGNA, G. PITTONI, D. RIPAMONTI, G. ROSA, R. ROSI, I. SALVO, A. SARTI, G. SERAFINI, G. SERVADIO, A. SGANDURRA, M. SORBELLO, F. TANA, R. TUFANO, S. VESCONI, A. VILLANI, M. ZAULI

Recommendations for airway control and difficult airway management.

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Recommendations for airway control and difficult airway management.