Airway Management Special Interest Group

OBJECTIVE

The major objective of the Airway Management Special Interest Group is the promotion of science and education by the exchange of ideas between anaesthetists with a particular interest and involvement in airway management.

FUTURE EVENTS

2023 Joint Airway Management SIG meeting (satellite meeting to the ASA NSC)

RESOURCES

For copies of resources please contact Kirsty O'Connor, Senior Events Officer on +61 3 9510 6299.  

TOPICALISATION AND SEDATION FOR AWAKE FIBREOPTIC INTUBATION 

 Please click here to download the Topicalisation and Sedation for Awake Fibreoptic Intubation document

DIFFICULT AIRWAY ALERT 

The Airway Management SIG have long aspired to consistent reporting of difficult airway information and we are working toward the ultimate goal of a patient protective airway database.

The Queensland Difficult Airway Alert project has developed a standardised airway alert form supported by a background document with agreed definitions for difficult airway, difficulty with bag mask ventilation, supraglottic airway ventilation and tracheal intubation, both direct and videolaryngoscopy. The documents provide guidance on when an alert should be generated and how difficult airway information is disseminated.

The working group has also made additions to the SNOMED clinical terms system to allow for difficult airway information to be more accurately reflected in electronic health records. A longer term the goal is to utilise this standardised form into a point of care database for difficult airway alert information. In Australia this will need to be achieved through My Health Record and consultation with the Australian Digital Health Agency towards this intention is in progress.

The form has recently been updated after broad consultation with users of the form and airway experts across Australia and New Zealand. It reflects contemporary thinking on how best to relay information regarding a difficult airway. ANZCA are pleased to endorse the form and encourage its use to standardise communication surrounding this important clinical event.

The form can easily be rebranded for any local hospital or health service or an ANZCA branded version can be utilised by individual practitioners. The copyright agreement with QLD Statewide Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care Clinical Network (SWAPNet) require the copyright information to remain in the left border of the document and no clinical information to be altered. If you would like further information regards the form the SWAPNet co-ordinator can be contacted via email.  

AIRWAY LEADS IN AUSTRALIA 

A new initiative of the Airway Management SIG is the establishment of an airway leads network throughout both public and private sectors to assist each other and improve airway management in anaesthesia.

The Airway Management SIG is aiming for one airway lead to be nominated at each Australian health facility that provides general anaesthesia or sedation.

Those interested in nominating an airway lead should seek the endorsement of a senior such as the director/head of department (public hospitals) or equivalent and fill in the form that can be found here.

For further information on the Airway Leads, please visit the Airway Management SIG webpage.

NEWSLETTER

February 2020

August 2018

MEMBERSHIP

If you’d like information on joining the Airway Management Special Interest Group, download an application form or contact the Senior Events Officer on +61 3 9510 6299.

EXECUTIVE

For further information, please contact Events or phone +61 3 9510 6299 or visit the ANZCA website.