Airway Procedures

There has been a marked increase in the number and complexity of airway procedures performed both in the operating room and procedural areas. The anesthesiologist is challenged with establishing a patent shared airway and maintaining adequate gas exchange in patients with compromised airways and/or respiratory function. This review presents a general approach to the patient presenting for an airway procedure and highlights the commonly occurring complications. Airway fire, bleeding, and airway disruption or obstruction may occur. Some of the newer interventional bronchoscopic procedures are introduced, with emphasis on anesthetic implications. A more detailed discussion surrounds the anesthetic management of central airway obstruction and airway stenting. This review contains 8 figures, 5 tables, 30 references.  Key Words: anesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy, anesthesia for rigid bronchoscopy, airway stenting, bronchoscopy, central airway obstruction, interventional pulmonology, total intravenous anesthesia, ventilation