• Karla O'Dell.
• Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. Electronic address: kodell@usc.edu.
• Anesthesiol Clin. 2015 Jun 1;33(2):279-90.

AbstractAirway management is one of the most important aspects of anesthesia care. Although the incidence of difficult intubation is low, predicting a potentially difficult airway can ensure that necessary staff and equipment are available. A preoperative airway evaluation should include a history and physical examination focusing on elements that can cause problems with intubation. When indicated, flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy can add valuable information regarding the upper aerodigestive anatomy. Specific patient and situational factors should be considered. Alternative plans should be defined before the initiation of anesthesia. Management of a complex airway should be a coordinated effort between anesthesiologists and otolaryngologists.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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