Advances in Airway Management and Ventilation Strategies in Emergency Medicine

Effective management of the airway is a priority in resuscitation efforts and a central issue in emergency medicine for providing ventilation and oxygenation in critically ill patients. Compared to the controlled conditions of the operating theatre, airway management in the emergency department is more difficult than in other circumstances; the patient may be in respiratory distress, desaturating, or may have a compromised airway. In addition, sedation may have a profound effect on hemodynamically unstable patients, who may become severely hypotensive and rapidly deteriorated, while preparation of the patient, environment, and equipment is often challenging [1, 2].