Strategies for airway management

Airway management is a critical part of anaesthesia practice. Management includes mask ventilation, laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation and extubation of the patient. Difficulty can be encountered at any of these stages, potentially resulting in significant complications. Thorough preoperative assessment, as well as careful planning and preparation, can reduce the potential for complications. The American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) developed and recently revised guidelines for the management of the difficult airway. These guidelines focus on strategies for intubation as well as alternative airway techniques that can be used when a patient with a difficult airway is encountered.