Basic Airway Management

Author: Gavin Lloyd / Editor: Steve Fordham / Reviewers: Alan Mackay, Grace Mckay, Raghaventhar Manikandan / Code: / Published: 21/02/2020 / Reviewed: 26/08/2024

Patients with airway compromise need prompt recognition and correction using basic airway techniques. These are essential skills for emergency physicians and will be covered in this session.

After completing this session you will be able to:

• Clinically identify patients with airway compromise
• Respond to these with simple airway manoeuvres
• Select and introduce airway adjuncts appropriately
• Recognise the need for ventilation and deliver this effectively

References

1. Difficult Airway Society. UK Training in Emergency Airway Management (TEAM) Course.
2. Royal College of Anaesthetists. UK Training in Emergency Airway Management (TEAM).
3. Ahmad I, et al. Difficult Airway Society 2025 guidelines for management of unanticipated difficult tracheal intubation in adults. Br J Anaesth. 2026 Jan;136(1):283-307.
4. Resuscitation Council (UK). The ABCDE approach. updated July 2024.
5. Nickson C. Airway Assessment. Life in the Fast Lane (LITFL), 2024.
6. Bradley P, et al. Airway Assessment. Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), 2016.