Continuous education in procedural sedation: life-threatening airway obstruction and contributing perioperative patient factors

Abstract

More complex surgical procedures are increasingly offered to older patients with pre-existing disease. Perioperative patient care is at the cornerstone of the current trend in anaesthesia research. Sedation practitioners also have a role to play as intra-operative events can have an impact on long-term morbidity and mortality. A common respiratory emergency encountered during sedation is airway obstruction. Identifying the patient at risk of obstruction will greatly improve the levels of safety and care.