2022 Dates & Locations Announced for The Difficult Airway Course

Registration is now open for the 2022 offerings of The Difficult Airway Course: Emergency™, The Difficult Airway Course: Anesthesia™ and The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care™. As you plan for your 2022 CME activities, please consider joining us! March 19 - 21 InterContinental New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana The Difficult Airway Course: Emergency Read more..

Be Ready for A Little More Hair This Month…

In honor of No-Shave November, we asked the bearded Steve Carleton, MD, PhD (senior faculty of The Difficult Airway Course: Emergency) and Darren Braude, MD, EMT-P (Medical Director of The Difficult Airway Course: EMS) how to overcome challenges related to bag-mask ventilation and facial hair. They offered these practical recommendations: Read more..

AMEC National Course Policy Relating to COVID-19

Airway Management Education Center has updated its National Course Policy relating to COVID-19 for 2022. This policy applies to the Emergency, Anesthesia and Critical Care versions of The Difficult Airway Course. In-Person National Course Attendance Policy Airway Management Education Center (AMEC) will be holding in-person national courses which will be operated in compliance with... Read more..

Research Update: Angioedema, Awake Intubation, and the Predicted Difficult Airway

Dr. Calvin Brown discusses recent research related to angioedema in the ED, awake intubation, and the recently updated Canadian Airway Focus Group's recommendations for the anticipated difficult airway. And of course, Dr. Brown includes key take-away lessons - Calvin's Critical Concepts. Read more..

Protocolized Care Does Not Prevent Reintubation

Patricia Kritek, MD   A protocol to use either high-flow nasal cannula or noninvasive ventilation after extubation did not prevent reintubation.   Based on studies completed during the past 2 decades, many intensive care units (ICU) have adopted protocols to regularly assess readiness for extubation (Lancet 2008; 371:126). Once a... Read more..

Research Update: Risk Factors for Peri-intubation Mortality, Bedside Screening for Anatomic Difficulty, and Rocuronium Dosing

Dr. Calvin Brown discusses recent research on risk factors associated with peri-intubation mortality, an easy-to-use bedside screening technique for assessing anatomic difficulty using thyromental height, and rocuronium dosing for emergency RSI. Read more..

Appropriate Use of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen in Hospitalized Patients

Patricia Kritek, MD   High-flow nasal cannulae generally should be used in hypoxemic patients. Background This is the first guideline focused solely on use of high-flow nasal cannulae (HFNC). Recommendations were based on best available evidence as well as patient values and preferences, potential risks and benefits, and cost. Key Points
  • Patients with hypoxemic respiratory... Read more..

    Rapid-Sequence Intubation Better Than Etomidate Alone for Prehospital Intubation

    Daniel Pallin, MD, MPH   More support for RSI versus sedation-assisted intubation.   Use of rapid-sequence intubation (RSI) in the prehospital setting is controversial. In a prospective crossover trial, these authors compared laryngoscopy conditions and intubation success rates with etomidate-only (0.3 mg/kg) intubation and RSI using etomidate (same dose) plus succinylcholine (1.5 mg/kg).   Each of... Read more..

    Helmet Noninvasive Ventilation Helped Patients with COVID-19 Avoid Intubation

    Patricia Kritek, MD   Researchers found no difference in mortality or days free of respiratory support but less need for invasive ventilation.   Patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure are treated with supplemental oxygen, often high flow, with progression to invasive ventilation if hypoxemia worsens. Whether some patients could be supported with noninvasive ventilation (NIV)... Read more..

    Research Update: The Unstable Patient, COVID Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure, and Videolarygoscopy

    Dr. Calvin Brown discusses recent research on airway management in the unstable patient, COVID hypoxemic respiratory failure in the ED and which MAC (SG) videolaryngoscopy is best. Read more..

    Dexmedetomidine vs. Propofol for Sedation During Mechanical Ventilation

    Patricia Kritek, MD   Key clinical outcomes were similar with either drug.   Current best practice in the intensive care unit (ICU) is to use the least medication necessary to keep patients alert, interactive, and comfortable while they receive mechanical ventilation. Compared with propofol and benzodiazepines, dexmedetomidine has been associated with less delirium and... Read more..

    No Benefit to Targeting a Lower Partial Pressure of Oxygen

    Patricia Kritek, MD   A lower oxygenation target didn't prevent mortality or adverse events in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure.   Oxygen is a life-saving intervention for patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure. However, might too much oxygen be harmful? Although small studies have suggested a benefit for lower oxygenation targets, a conservative oxygen strategy... Read more..

    2020 Airway Article of the Year Announced

    Airway Management Education Center, the creators of The Difficult Airway Course™, hosted the ninth annual “Airway Article of the Year” award show as a live webinar on December 17, 2020.  Webinar host, Calvin Brown III, MD presented three articles as finalists.  The nominees were selected from among all the articles... Read more..

    Research Update: Ketamine, Preoxygenation, and Intubation Boxes for use with COVID-19 Patients

    Dr. Calvin Brown discusses recent research on ketamine, preoxygenation, and the use of aerosol barrier boxes for use during intubation of COVID-19 patients. Read more..

    2020 Airway Article of the Year Award Show

    Calvin A. Brown III, MD presents three nominees for "2020 Airway Article of the Year."  The nominated articles were chosen from among those featured in the 2020 Quarterly Airway Research Updates.  Dr. Brown discusses the merits of each article and the audience votes for the "Airway Article of the Year." Read more..

    Lower Levels of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Didn’t Harm Patients Without Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

    Patricia Kritek, MD   PEEP of ≤5 cm H2O and PEEP of 8 cm H2O resulted in similar outcomes.   Low tidal volume ventilation, often with high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), is the standard of care for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Clinicians commonly adopt the same approach to support... Read more..