What you will be able to do
- Distinguish between oxygenation (oxygen into blood, measured by SpO2) and ventilation (gas movement and CO2 clearance, measured by capnography), and explain why treating a ventilation problem with supplemental oxygen alone is insufficient.
- Localize airway obstruction as upper (stridor, inspiratory difficulty) or lower (wheeze, expiratory difficulty) based on clinical signs, and explain why localization determines the intervention.
- Apply the staged escalation framework: positioning → supplemental oxygen → airway adjuncts → positive-pressure ventilation → advanced airway, selecting the least invasive intervention that maintains oxygenation and ventilation.
- Identify high-risk clinical signs that indicate impending airway failure: inability to speak in full sentences, stridor at rest, silent chest despite respiratory effort, worsening mental status, accessory muscle use, and tracheal tug.
- Describe the anatomical differences in pediatric airways (larger occiput, anterior larynx, subglottic narrowing, lower oxygen reserve) and explain how they change management.
- Articulate the immediate post-intubation priorities: confirm placement with capnography, secure the tube, anticipate post-intubation hypotension, ensure adequate sedation and analgesia.
Prerequisites
- No formal prerequisites. The introductory curriculum is self-contained.
- Familiarity with the respiratory system and nervous system is helpful.
Reference documents
- Introduction to Airway Management — the introductory lesson
- Airway Anatomy and Physiology Basics — structural foundation
- Airway Assessment and Clinical Reasoning — bedside evaluation
- Oxygen Delivery and Ventilation Support — the support ladder
- Airway Treatment Principles — staged escalation
- Pediatric Airway Differences — what changes in children
- Post-Intubation Safety and Reassessment — after the tube
- Common Airway Illnesses and Syndromes — clinical patterns
Scope
This skill covers conceptual understanding of airway assessment and the logic of airway management. It does not cover:
- Procedural competence (intubation technique, cricothyrotomy, chest tube insertion) — these require hands-on training
- Ventilator management beyond initial settings
- Anesthesia-specific airway planning
- Advanced imaging interpretation
Verification
You have this skill if you can: (1) given a clinical scenario with respiratory distress, distinguish whether the primary problem is oxygenation or ventilation and explain why; (2) localize obstruction as upper or lower airway based on clinical signs; (3) select an appropriate intervention from the staged escalation framework and justify why you chose that level; and (4) describe what you would check and anticipate in the first five minutes after intubation.