Airway management is a fundamental skill in the implementation and maintenance of a general anaesthetic. An anaesthetised patient does not have full control over their airway, and without management a partial obstruction or other more serious complication may occur (Griffiths 1999). There are many ways to reduce the risk of complications occurring in the anaesthetic process. These methods can be subdivided into two main categories: prior preparation (Chethan & Hughes 2008) and pre-assessment (Neacsu 2002).
Al-ShaikhB, StaceyS2008Essentials of Anaesthetic Equipment (3rd edition) London, Churchill Livingstone
2.
American Society of Anaesthesiologists2003Practice parameter: practice guidelines for the management of the difficult airway.Illinois, ASA
3.
BairA, CaravelliR, TylerK, LaurinE2008Feasibility of the preoperative Mallampati airway assessment in emergency department patientsJournal of Emergency Medicine38(5) 677–680
4.
BOC Healthcare2009Medical gas data sheet: medical oxygenManchester, BOC Group Ltd
5.
BrydenD, GwinnuttC2000Airway management: the difficult airwayTrauma2(2) 113–123
6.
ChethanD, HughesR2008Tracheal intubation, tracheal tubes and laryngeal mask airwaysJournal of Perioperative Practice18(3) 88–94
7.
Difficult Airway Society2004Unanticipated difficult tracheal intubation during routine induction of anaesthesia in an adult patient -flow chartUK, Difficult Airway Society
8.
GannerC2001Specialist nursing: The accurate measurement of endotracheal tube cuff pressuresBritish Journal of Nursing10(17) 1127–1134
9.
GriffithsR1999Back to basics: Anaesthesia/Airway managementBritish Journal of Theatre Nursing9(10) 480–483
10.
GuptaS, SharmaR, JainD2005Airway assessment: predictors of difficult airwayIndian Journal of Anaesthesia49(4) 257–262
SinclairR, LuxtonM2005Rapid sequence inductionContinuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain5(2) 45–48
17.
SirianR, WillsJ2009Physiology of apnoea and the benefits of preoxygenationBritish Journal of Anaesthesia9(4) 105–108
18.
SolisA, BaillardC2008Effectiveness of preoxygenation using the head-up position and non-invasive vantilation to reduce hypoxaemia during inubationAnnales Françaises d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation27(6) 490–494
