The difficult airway is a reality that every practitioner of anesthesia will
encounter. The most difficult airway is the unanticipated difficult airway. Due to the
enormous efforts and work of professional societies awareness has been raised, training
has improved, and skills are kept current. New devices such as the Laryngeal Mask
Airway (LMA) and video laryngoscopy have made securing the difficult airway an
easier task. Increased awareness of obstructive sleep apnea has helped improve patient
safety. This article attempts to discuss the key components of the difficult airway
algorithms of the ASA, DAS, CAFG; with a focus on the airway exam, oxygenating
the patient, developing a plan and backup plans, and finally the options when doing.
Keywords: Airway Algorithm, Airway Examination, Difficult Airway,
Oxygenation, Surgical Airway, Supraglottic Device.
