부산대학교 도서관

Management of the difficult airway remains one of the highest-risk procedures commonly performed by emergency medicine physicians, and awake fiberoptic intubation is an important yet clinically underutilized procedure in this context. If a difficult airway is predicted, but the patient has a normal oxygenation and mental status, awake fiberoptic intubation is the airway management technique of choice. Early preparation is key, focusing on airway desiccation with glycopyrrolate, nasal vasoconstriction, and adequate topicalization with lidocaine throughout the upper airway, with or without mild sedation. The decision to use an oral versus a nasal approach is dictated by the patient’s airway anatomy, the clinician’s experience, and the availability of equipment and resources in the department.