Pre-reading: M&M Chapters 19

Lecture: Airway Anatomy & Difficult Airway

Content outline

• Anatomy of the nose/mouth/pharynx/larynx including innervation

• Evaluation and anticipation of the difficult airway

• Approach to the difficult airway

Questions

• Nose: How far should you insert a nasal temperature probe? Why are nosebleeds concerning and should they be managed?

• Mouth: Which teeth (numbers) are most commonly injured with anesthesia? Which blade (Mac or Miller) will always stimulate the vagus with conventional use?

• Larynx: How do faculty know when your blade is in the esophagus? Why does cricoid pressure help your view, and why might cricoid pressure be useful with RSIs?

• Difficult airway: What elements of preop exam are most concerning for difficult airway? Describe an approach to managing the unexpected difficult airway.