Introduction

In session III of this module you have learnt the normal anatomy and physiology of air ways and session VI the methods of assessment of the air way to predict the normal and abnormal airway which might be difficult for mask or intubation. The effects of general anesthesia may depress or stop respiration. When a patient receives sedative or anesthetic medications, there is a relaxation of the pharyngeal muscles. This can cause the tongue and other tissue to relax and occlude the airway. This occlusion may be partial or complete. At this stage, unless the air way is maintained by any means hypoxia and hypercarbia developed within few minutes of apnea which lead to cardiac arrest and death occur. The majority of airway-related deaths and severe neurologic morbidity result not from a failure to intubate the trachea but rather from a failure to ventilate and oxygenate. Prudent anesthetists use techniques for ventilation without tracheal intubation when the latter is not indicated or has failed. These include face mask ventilation, oral airways, and supraglottic devices such as LMAs. In this session, you will learn how to maintain the air way without air way devices (chin lift, jaw thrust), and with supra glottic air way devices. This enables the learner to manage air way of anesthetized or unconscious patient to support their oxygenation and ventilation.