Updated review in pediatric airway management

ABSTRACT

With respect to anesthesia for pediatric patients, the most challenging component is airway management because it has been known to be the most significant cause of anesthesia-related morbidity or mortality. Recently, in the field of pediatric anesthesia, several interesting studies have been published; one study presents the incidence of complications related to difficult tracheal intubation, and the other studies have performed re-examination of the upper airway anatomy. In addition, supraglottic airway devices (SGA) are the main devices not only for securing the airway in an emergent situation but also for routine anesthetic management. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize and re-consider the results of studies on SGA for better use. This review presents an introduction to the recent progressive studies regarding pediatric airway management and it provides several considerations which have been overlooked for safe and effective use of SGA.