Resident training in advanced airway management

Abstract

Management of the difficult airway is an essential skill that should be taught during an anesthesiology residency. However, only a minority of anesthesiology residency programs have formal rotations in advanced airway management. We developed a formal advanced airway rotation as an integral part of our residency program, consisting of two 1-month rotations during the residency, each with a separate focus. While on the advanced airway rotation, the resident anesthesiologist is given a set of objectives, a list of required reading, and a required number of procedures unique to advanced airway management that they must perform during the rotation. We believe that this rotation has been beneficial in improving the residents' exposure to advanced airway techniques, and has dramatically improved their capabilities in this important aspect of anesthetic of anesthetic training. Additionally, the structure of the rotation ensures uniformity in the residents' acquisition of advanced airway skills.