Due to its relevance to patient outcome, management of the difficult airway is a major topic in the training of anesthesiologists. Algorithms may serve as a plan for a difficult situation. Since 1993, many professional organizations have published guidelines for airway management. ASA and DGAI share common strategies in their guidelines, but also have significant differences. The DGAI provides different algorithms for both the anticipated and unanticipated difficult airway, while the ASA uses one universal algorithm. Extraglottic airway devices and video laryngoscopes are integral part of all these algorithms. In the DGAI guideline, spontaneous breathing is essential, in contrast to the ASA algorithm. Furthermore, the DGAI guideline is much more specific than the ASA guideline in regard to the anticipated difficult airway, extubation strategy and continuing training of anesthesiologists.
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