Airway management induces stress and fear in the heart of many Critical Care practitioners. In a high pressure situation, it's easy to falter on the see-saw of demand vs. ability. Rich argues that in difficult airway management, we are hindered by: complex algorithms, anecdotal expertise and the negative perception of the task as 'undoable' and the downplaying of our abilities. In crisis, we need simple!
Rich discusses the need to redefine the priorities of the airway (away from 'find the vocal cords/cricothyroid membrane'), incrementalisation and consensus of method. Rich also briefly discusses the future of airway management - nasal oxygenation and the need to move past the surgical airway as a failed airway.