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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
thing new. No single tool works in all patients. If you've done your air-
way assessment properly, you will know which airway management
modalities might be difficult, and will have a variety of tools ready to
overcome or bypass the areas you predicted to be challenging."
Learn an indirect intubation technique you're comfortable with and
master it with "practice, practice, practice," says Todd A. Erickson,
CRNA, of Island Anesthesia in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Dr. DeFrancesco warns that it's impossible for a provider to be an
expert at all airway rescue techniques. "It's wise for us to pick one
technique and become comfortable with it," he says.
Losing the airway is a real and constant threat to every anesthesia
provider. During anesthesia care, all protocols are secondary to airway
concerns. "In anesthesia, our main concern is the airway," says Jason
A N E S T H E S I A
The difficult airway is an uninvited guest to
the OR. It can loudly announce its presence
or tiptoe into the room like a surprise intruder.
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