Core Topics in Airway Management

Book excerpt: This book provides an easy-to-read introduction to this important topic that will be of value to a wide spectrum of healthcare professionals including anaesthetists, intensivists, ODPs, theatre and recovery nurses. Concise but comprehensive chapters from experts in the field cover everything from basic anatomy, physiology and applied physics, through the various methods of maintaining the airway under anaesthesia (supraglottic devices, tracheal intubation, tubes/cuffs, endobronchial and double-lumen tubes) to the problem airway (obstruction by infection, tumour or a foreign body, ENT and maxillo-facial surgery, aspiration, obstetrics, trauma, cervical spine disease, intensive care, the 'lost' airway, extubation and recovery), the paediatric airway, disinfection and cleaning of equipment and finally morbidity, mortality and medico-legal issues. 'Real' clinical scenarios, with patient management questions and model answers, are included throughout, to bring to life some of the key problems encountered in day-to-day practice and enhance the book's utility as a teaching and self-learning tool.