Review article

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2023.62.s1.10

Airway Management Guidelines In Obstetrics

Ivan Šklebar ; Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia; Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences, Bjelovar, Croatia
Dubravko Habek ; School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Sanja Berić ; Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Tatjana Goranović ; Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Anatomic and physiologic changes during pregnancy make it more difficult to
establish a safe airway in pregnant women in case of the need for surgery under general anesthesia
than in the non-obstetric population. The inability to ventilate and oxygenate is one of the most common
causes of morbidity and mortality associated with general anesthesia for cesarean section. The
aim of this paper is to present and analyze modern guidelines and algorithms for the management
of difficult airway in obstetrics as an important segment of anesthesiology practice. Modern difficult
airway management guidelines for pregnant women describe the procedure of difficult facemask ventilation,
difficult airway management by using supraglottic devices, difficult endotracheal intubation,
and emergency cricothyrotomy or tracheotomy in a situation where oxygenation and ventilation are
impossible. Algorithms describe the procedures and equipment for each variant of difficult airway and
decision-making strategies in situations when neither airway nor adequate oxygenation can be provided.
Croatian anesthesiologists in most obstetric departments have appropriate equipment, as well
as necessary experience in difficult airway management for pregnant women, and modern algorithms
from the most developed countries can be adopted and accommodated to our daily practice, as well as
incorporated into the training curricula of residents.

Keywords

Pregnancy; Difficult airway; Cesarean section; Obstetrics; Guidelines; Algorithms

Hrčak ID:

307478

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/307478

Publication date:

1.4.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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