Physicians of emergency department should be trained in airway
management and be familiar with the algorithms and devices at their hospitals.
Whenever possible, a rapid evaluation should be carried out in order to attempt to
manage a possible difficult airway. Limiting the number of attempts (maximum of
three attempts) to achieve a timely nontraumatic endotracheal intubation is the main
goal in airway management. Therefore, it is important to make the first attempt in the
best conditions and with a device with the highest likelihood of success in order to
prevent airway trauma and progression to a “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate”
situation.
Keywords: Cricoid pressure, Capnography, Difficult Airway, Emergency
Department, Failed intubation, FONA, Hypoxia, Oesophageal intubation, RSI,
Surgical airway, Videolaryngoscope.
