Airway Management

• LMA does not protect against aspiration or laryngospasm, but does protect against tongue and soft tissue upper airway obstruction.
• ETT indications:

1. Protect the airway
2. Provide a patent airway
3. Provide positive pressure ventilation (abdominal/thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, long surgeries)

• Nasotracheal intubation contraindications:

1. Facial fractures
2. Coagulopathy
3. Intranasal abnormalities
4. Sinnusitis
5. Basal skull fractures

Difficult Airway

• Anticipated: regional/local anesthetic, or awake fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation, inhaled anesthetic in peds
• Unanticipated, Able to Ventilate: consider alternate approach
• Unanticipated, Unable to Ventilate: insert LMA, if still unable to ventilate crichothyrotomy