Identification and Management of Difficult Airways

Abstract

Airway management is a critical aspect of anesthetic practice, particularly in patients presenting with multiple clinical signs indicating a potentially difficult airway (DA). This case report examined utilization of the difficult airway algorithm in a 48-year-old male patient who presented for maxillomandibular advancement surgery due to chronic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite advancements in airway management technology, the incidence of adverse events remains a concern, particularly in patients with anatomic characteristics consistent with DA. The creation and use of standardized protocols to include these recommendations for DA management optimizes patient outcomes by reducing errors in practitioner judgment. This poster presentation includes tools to be used for the identification and management of DA, including a clinical practice algorithm to follow when DA is suspected during the preoperative period