Management of the difficult airway: alternative airway techniques and adjuncts

Rapid-sequence intubation using conventional laryngoscopic technique remains the standard of airway management in emergency medicine and has a success rate of approximately 98%. Preparation and proper intubation technique must be optimized on the initial attempt, using direct laryngoscopy. Failure causes multiple repeated attempts, leading to a failed airway. Emergency medicine physicians skilled with alternative devices are better prepared to avert a bad outcome when managing a patient with a difficult airway.