Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate

In the last few steps, you have learnt about the Difficult Airway Society (DAS) Guidelines and the Vortex Approach. In a “Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate” situation, both of these culminate in airway rescue with an emergency front of neck airway (eFONA) when all other options to oxygenate have failed. In this video several health professionals will recount their harrowing experience of performing or assisting to eFONA.

The clinicians in the video refer to several cases involving patients, their families, colleagues and the hospital in which they were working. Please treat this information with respect.

The NAP4 report stresses​ the importance of a structured response to airway emergencies and to “Plan for failure”. The actual technique recommended by DAS will be covered in detail later this week. First, Dr Kirstie McPherson, Consultant Anaesthetist at University College London Hospital, will look at some of the challenges of performing eFONA and how they can be overcome.