Management of difficult and failed intubation in obstetrics guidelines
This page hosts the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association and Difficult Airway Society’s 2015 guidelines for the management of difficult and failed tracheal intubation in obstetrics.
Managing the obstetric difficult airway requires unique consideration and skills. Anatomical and physiological changes in pregnancy exacerbate the problem and surgery is often performed with extreme urgency to ensure the wellbeing of a different individual to the patient.
Presented below are the algorithms and important links to various resources including the original article in Anaesthesia (open access).
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Background
In 2012 the OAA and DAS committees set up a working group to develop national guidelines on the management of difficult airway in obstetrics in the UK. Following extensive work, a detailed literature review was published in the IJOA, and the obstetric difficult airway guidelines paper and algorithms were published in Anaesthesia.
At a time of declining numbers and experience in obstetric general anaesthesia, it is hoped that the publication of these national guidelines will improve consistency of clinical practice, reduce adverse events and provide a structure for teaching and training on failed tracheal intubation in obstetrics.
Downloads and links
Guideline algorithms (PDF format)
Guideline algorithms (Powerpoint format)
Anaesthesia journal article (open access)
Anaesthesia journal editorial accompanying launch of guidelines
GUIDELINES
DAS guidelines for awake tracheal intubation (ATI) in adults
Difficult Airway Society guidelines (2019) for awake tracheal intubation (ATI) in adults.
Guidelines for the management of tracheal intubation in critically ill adults
These guidelines (2017) describe a comprehensive strategy to optimize oxygenation, airway management, and tracheal intubation in critically ill patients, in all hospital locations.
Airway management in patients with suspected or confirmed cervical spine injury
Guidelines (2024) from the Difficult Airway Society (DAS), Association of Anaesthetists (AoA), British Society of Orthopaedic Anaesthetists (BSOA), Intensive Care Society (ICS), Neuro Anaesthesia and Critical Care Society (NACCS), Faculty of Prehospital Care and Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)
Management of difficult and failed intubation in obstetrics guidelines
This page hosts the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association and Difficult Airway Society’s 2015 guidelines for the management of difficult and failed tracheal intubation in obstetrics.
Paediatric difficult airway guidelines
The Paediatric Airway Guidelines Group, comprised of the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists and the Difficult Airway Society, liaising with the RCoA, produced three algorithms relating to the management of the unanticipated difficult airway in children aged 1 to 8 years.
Management of tracheal extubation guidelines
The Difficult Airway Society has developed guidelines (2011) for the safe management of tracheal extubation in adult perioperative practice. The guidelines discuss the problems arising during extubation and recovery and promote a strategic, stepwise approach to extubation. They emphasise the importance of planning and preparation, and include practical techniques for use in clinical practice and recommendations for post-extubation care.
DAS guidelines for management of unanticipated difficult intubation in adults
The Difficult Airway Society 2015 guidelines for management of unanticipated difficult intubation in adults. This was the result of three years of diligent work by our guidelines development team.
Management of haematoma after thyroid surgery guidelines
DAS, BAETS & ENT UK consensus guidelines (2021) for management of haematoma after thyroid surgery. Written in collaboration with our surgical and nursing colleagues, we hope they will improve patient safety, whilst promoting teamwork and organisational preparedness.