Airway management is a key component of anesthesia care. Pediatric patients have unique anatomical and physiological differences from the adult airway. These differences affect the management and techniques required for the nurse anesthesiologist to provide safe and effective care. Adverse respiratory events are among the most critical perioperative events in pediatric anesthesia. There are multiple pathologies associated with pediatric patients that present challenges to the anesthesia provider. Furthermore, there are syndromes seen in the pediatric population that are associated with the presence of a difficult airway. This review will examine the anatomy and physiology of the pediatric airway, as well as pediatric airway assessment and management. It will describe common pediatric airway problems and discuss the pediatric difficult airway algorithm.
Learning Objectives:
Review the anatomical and physiological differences between the pediatric and adult airway.
Recognize common pediatric airway problems and their management.
Describe common pediatric syndromes with potentially difficult airways.
