Difficult airway managemnt

Difficult Airway Management describes the challenges of managing difficult airways in emergency departments. Factors that can make intubation difficult include limited pre-procedure evaluation, hypoxia, and dynamic medical conditions in non-controlled settings. Predicting difficult airways involves considering history of conditions like small mouths or infections and performing a physical exam including the Mallampati score, thyromental distance, and neck mobility. Management involves having an emergency airway trolley with various equipment available, using the most senior staff, delivering oxygen, and following an emergency airway algorithm that may include alternative techniques like laryngeal masks, fiberoptic intubation, or surgical airway as a last resort.