Use of supraglottic airway devices in difficult airway management and its related problems

Abstract

Background Supraglottic airway devices (SAD) play an important role in the management of patients with difficult airways.Furthermore,use of SAD for difficult airway management is widely recommended in many guidelines for the operating room and in the pre-hospital setting.Objective Aims of this review are to induce use of SAD in various aspects of difficult airway management and possible problems related to their use.Contents This article mainly reviews SAD classification,performance of SAD in difficult airway management,ventilation or intubation via a SAD in difficult airway management,use of SAD for difficult airway management in the pre-hospital setting and possible problems related to their use in various aspects of difficult airway management,etc.Trend The problem nowadays is that most studies regarding the SAD only are manikin-based studies.There are few randomized controlled trials comparing different SAD in patients with difficult airways.Because most safety data come from extensive use in clinical practice,claims of efficacy and particularly safety regarding use of SAD in difficult airway management must be interpreted cautiously. Key words: Supraglottic airway devices; Difficult airway management; Clinical evidence; Patient safety