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any provider: Take the proper precautions so you're able to respond to any
event, within reason, in case something goes awry.
Dr. Durick says a good provider never blames his tools. "If there's a
problem with an airway, it's probably because I chose the wrong-size air-
way device based on the patient's height and weight or because it's not
seated properly," he explains. "Maybe there's reactive airway disease, or
maybe the patient has gone into laryngospasm or bronchospasm. That's
why you diagnose quickly and always have a backup plan."
If your anesthesia providers lack the skill or experience to use a particular
airway device or technique, they need to develop that skill with help from
fellow clinicians or even manufacturer reps, suggests Dr. Durick. He says
providers never know when they'll need to put the tools to use in a life-or-
death situation and can't hesitate when the stakes are highest.
"The airways you expect to be normal, but are not — those are the ones that
are the scariest," he adds. "Providers have to know where their tools are, and
know how and when to use them, because they're the last line of defense
against an airway disaster."
OSM
