Introduction

In session VI you have learnt how to intubate anesthetized patient to control and maintain air way using appropriate equipment and standard procedures. When we perform endotracheal intubation some complication may result from trauma to air way structure during laryngoscope, misplacement of endotracheal tubes and the consequences such as hypoxia, hypercarbia and cardiac arrest. Complications of tracheal intubation should not influence the decision to place a tracheal tube. Certainly, the benefits of a properly placed tracheal tube far exceed the risks of tracheal intubation.

Doing air way assessment preoperatively will enable the anesthetist to predict the possibility of difficult air way if existed. Therefore the anesthetist will formulate plan to mange, consult or refer cases to better institution which are equipped with human and material resources to manage difficult air way. But there are un anticipated problems which may endanger the patient life which must be managed at primary level. In this session you will learn to acquire knowledge, skill and the right attitude to identify and manage complication of endotracheal intubation and management of difficult airway.