Fiberoptic airway management.

Abstract

Despite many recent innovations in equipment for difficult airway management, it remains the leading cause of the most devastating adverse outcomes in anesthesia. Fiberoptic airway management is among the most versatile of techniques for difficult airway management. It requires a greater degree of skill than most other techniques, however. Training, practice, and adherence to a few basic principles are required. It is most frequently used when difficult airway management is predicted but also may be appropriate when unforeseen difficulty arises. It cannot be too strongly emphasized, however, that this technique takes time and should be entertained only if the anesthesia care provider is able to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation until the airway is secured.