Abstract

Physicians of emergency department should be trained in airway management and be familiar with the algorithms and devices at their hospitals. Whenever possible, a rapid evaluation should be carried out in order to attempt to manage a possible difficult airway. Limiting the number of attempts (maximum of three attempts) to achieve a timely nontraumatic endotracheal intubation is the main goal in airway management. Therefore, it is important to make the first attempt in the best conditions and with a device with the highest likelihood of success in order to prevent airway trauma and progression to a “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate” situation.