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MAY 9, 2023

A Difficult Airway Made More Difficult

When Conscious Sedation Proves Inadequate for Intubation

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Christian Dib, MD
Resident Physician
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
UCLA Health
Los Angeles
Editor: Karen Sibert, MD

Introduction

The advent of video laryngoscopy may have reduced the frequency of needing to perform awake fiberoptic intubation. However, awake intubation remains the gold standard for airway management in a known or suspected difficult airway situation. To be successful, anesthesiologists must achieve the skillful balance of providing adequate sedation while