[1997][Lecture Series]Ventilation 'moves': Difficult Airways and Difficult Places

Obtaining and maintaining an airway is one of the most important goals in medicine and EMS. Physicians, respiratory care practitioners, paramedics, and advanced nurse clinicians are all taught the skills necessary to reach this goal. Obtaining an airway can be difficult even under the best of circumstances, add to the scenario a patient with facial trauma, obstructed upper airway or the potentially adverse working conditions at the scene or in an ambulance or helicopter. Transport teams face these situations on a frequent basis. Alternatives to standard laryngoscope that can be applied under difficult situations are cricothyrotomy, retrograde intubation, rapid sequence induction, digital intubation or use of an airway exchange catheter. Options will be discussed with the hope of stimulating audience thought and discussion.

AARC 50th Anniversary, December 6 - 9, 1997, New Orleans, Louisiana.