Organization of personnel and resources for airway management in the hospital and office environment.

Good airway management depends on a system that emphasizes teamwork to expedite care and minimize errors. By understanding the accreditation and licensing requirements, appropriate personnel and equipment can be allocated along cost effective guidelines. Newer techniques for management of the difficult airway, such as the laryngeal mask airway (LMA; LMA North America, San Diego, CA) and flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, provide alternatives to the emergency cricothyrotomy. A program of continuous quality improvement and clinical guidelines will enhance patient care and suggest intelligent use of airway resources.