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Table 1 Classification of airway in ICU

From: Difficult tracheal intubation in critically ill

Anatomically difficult airway

Physiologically difficult airway

Anatomically as well as physiologically difficult airway

A. Difficult bag mask ventilation

1. Neurophysiologic derangement (raised intracranial pressure)

• A + (any of physiological derangement 1....8)

B. Difficult supraglottic device placement

2. Cardiovascular derangement (derangements of preload, afterload, contractility or rhythm)

• B + (any of physiological derangement 1....8)

C. Difficult intubation

3. Respiratory derangement (hypoxemia and hypercarbia)

• C + (any of physiological derangement 1....8)

D. Difficult surgical airway

4. Hepatic derangement (raised intracranial pressure and coagulopathy)

• D + (any of physiological derangement 1....8)

 

5. Renal derangement (encephalopathy, pulmonary oedema, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis)

 
 

6. Gut derangement (raised intra-abdominal pressure, abdominal compartment syndrome)

 
 

7. Severe sepsis (lactic acidosis, distributive shock multiple organ dysfunction)

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