A Child With a Difficult Airway: What Do I Do Next?

Abstract

The challenge inherent to the care of infants and children is the basic principle that their development is a dynamic process. This is an important consideration when caring for a pediatric patient with a difficult airway. This is compounded by the fact that growth and change has extra metabolic demands such that the smaller the patient, the higher their relative metabolism. This increases oxygen consumption and in the cases of respiratory compromise hastens the effects of apnea. It is for these reasons that the difficult pediatric airway is particularly demanding of special attention.