Crit Care Resusc
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To review the management of the difficult airway in the intensive care unit patient. ⋯ The principles of difficult airway management, including a back-up plan and calling for assistance early, hold true in the intensive care setting as much as in any other clinical setting. It is vital that clinicians develop their own difficult airway algorithm based on their training and experience.
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To review alternative airway management techniques and their suitability to the intensive care setting. ⋯ There is a wide range of techniques available to manage the difficult airway. Due to the limited opportunity to train in the use of alternative airway techniques, such techniques should ideally involve an extension of those skills commonly practised by intensivists (e.g. bronchoscopy). Ultimately, the most important features when choosing a technique to manage a difficult airway are the training, knowledge and experience of the practitioner.
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To review the management of persistent hypertension and hypertensive crisis in the critically ill patient. ⋯ A mean arterial pressure in the critically ill is often tolerated up to a value of 135 mmHg for some hours. However in some disorders (e.g. dissecting aortic aneurysm, cardiac failure, angina, acute myocardial infarction, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and following cardiac, vascular or cerebral surgery) a mean arterial blood pressure of 90 mmHg or greater should be treated urgently.