Anaesthesia
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Difficult and/or failed intubation occurs in ~1 in 200 general anaesthetics, more commonly with emergency surgery, obesity, increased morbidity and with neuro or endocrine surgery.
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Practice Guideline
Consensus guidelines for managing the airway in patients with COVID-19.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus-2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is highly contagious. Airway management of patients with COVID-19 is high risk to staff and patients. We aimed to develop principles for airway management of patients with COVID-19 to encourage safe, accurate and swift performance. ⋯ The fundamental principles of airway management in these settings are described for: emergency tracheal intubation; predicted or unexpected difficult tracheal intubation; cardiac arrest; anaesthetic care; and tracheal extubation. We provide figures to support clinicians in safe airway management of patients with COVID-19. The advice in this document is designed to be adapted in line with local workplace policies.