Difficult airway management in the emergency department

Most airway management in the emergency department is straightforward and readily accomplished by the emergency physician. The exact incidence of difficult intubations is difficult to discern from available evidence, but these are probably more frequent in the Emergency Department than in the operating room, given the urgent nature of the procedure and the lack of preparation of the patient population. A variety of adjuncts for airway management are available to assist in both intubation and ventilation. The utility of these adjuncts is detailed in this review, with emphasis on techniques most useful to the emergency physician. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.