The Difficult Airway

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Blind Airway Insertion Devices

When searching for a quick and effective method to secure the airway, endotracheal intubation is the most ideal of definitive airways.  As we have learned, not every patient will be a candidate for endotracheal intubation.  When dealt the worst-case scenario of an apneic or agonally breathing patient on the verge of crashing, a definitive airway is needed.  For those patients who you cannot easily intubate and may have difficulty ventilating, an alternate airway is needed.  Today there are a variety of alternate blind airway insertion devices that will be discussed herein.  They include:

  •          Bougie
  •          Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA)
  •          Combitube
  •          King LTD / LTSD
  •          SALT

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