Difficult and failed intubation management in obstetrics. Issue 8 (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elsayed, Eslam; Clayton, Rhys
• Is Part Of: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. Volume 23:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 415
• Page End: 422
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Airway skills -- assessment -- failed intubation drill -- obstetrics -- preoperative -- simulation; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; Intensive care -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mpaic.2022.04.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-0299

Abstract

Abstract: Failed intubation in obstetrics remains a topical issue, a rare but potentially devastating complication of obstetric general anaesthesia. The 2015 guidelines produced following several years of collaborative work between the Difficult Airway Society (DAS) and Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA) remain the definitive text. While deaths from failed intubation have declined significantly over 30 years, the incidence of failed intubation remains fairly constant at 1:300, with the latest studies showing a rate of 1:224. This reflects the significant decline in the use of general anaesthesia for caesarean section over the last three decades; however, it also highlights a decreased exposure for trainees to tracheal intubation in the obstetric population.