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Pediatric airway management: current practices and future directions
Author(s) -
Sunder Rani A.,
Haile Dawit T.,
Farrell Patrick T.,
Sharma Anshuman
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/pan.12013
Subject(s) - medicine , airway management , current (fluid) , intensive care medicine , airway , surgery , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary Management of a pediatric airway can be a challenge, especially for the nonpediatric anesthesiologists. Structured algorithms for an unexpected difficult pediatric airway have been missing so far. A recent step wise algorithm, based on the D ifficult A irway society ( DAS ) adult protocol, is a step in the right direction. There have been some exciting advances in development of pediatric extra‐glottic devices for maintaining ventilation, and introduction of pediatric versions of new ‘non line of sight’ laryngoscopes and optical stylets. The exact role of these devices in routine and emergent situations is still evolving. Recent advances in simulation technology has become a valuable tool in imparting psychomotor and procedural skills to trainees and allied healthcare workers. Moving toward the goal of eliminating serious adverse events during the management of routine and difficult pediatric airway, authors propose that institutions develop a dedicated D ifficult A irway S ervice comprising of a team of experts in advanced airway management.