Children with difficult airways can come to significant harm if not appropriately assessed and managed. Chapter 10 discusses the signs of airway compromise in children and indications for intubation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The role of the paediatric airway in respiratory physiology is examined. Recognizing a difficult paediatric airway is vital in the ICU—common causes of upper airway obstruction are listed and techniques for assessing paediatric airways addressed. The choice of drugs for rapid sequence induction in the Paediatric ICU is explained, and algorithms for the management of the unanticipated difficult tracheal intubation and ‘cannot intubate, cannot ventilate’ illustrated. Finally, the chapter includes the fundamental concepts of team brief, checklists, and crisis resource management in the safe management of difficult airways in children.
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