2021 Curriculum learning syllabus: stage 3 special interest areas

Published: 25/02/2021

Anaesthesia for Patients with Complex Airway

  • Group 2: 3 to 6 months

Learning outcomes

  • Provides safe perioperative airway and anaesthetic care for a wide variety of patients with complex airway problems independently
  • Is capable of leading the delivery of care in this area of anaesthetic practice, to the benefit of both patients and the organisation

Key capabilities

A Acts as a senior decision maker within the multi-disciplinary team in planning the appropriate airway management in patients with complex airway pathology
B Formulates and delivers a safe airway strategy (including awake techniques) for the management of patients with complex airway pathology
C Can plan and deliver an extubation strategy for all patients, including those with airway pathology or having airway surgery
D Utilises techniques for apnoeic oxygenation and ventilation 
E Proficient in front of neck airway and participates in the delivery of emergency front of neck airway training
F Proficient in managing anaesthesia for patients needing a wide range of major head and neck surgery

Examples of evidence

Experience and logbook:
  • pre-operative clinic based assessment and multi-disciplinary planning for the suitability of surgery of patients with complex head and neck pathology like cancer, infection and congenital or acquired anatomical deformities
  • range of experience in theatres including ENT and head and neck surgery
Supervised Learning Events (SLEs) can be used to demonstrate:
  • pre-operative assessment and management of patients with complex airway pathology
  • leadership of multi-disciplinary planning for patients with complex airways
  • practical procedures such as:
  1. video-laryngoscope assisted intubations
  2. pre-operative nasendoscopy
  3. awake tracheal intubation
  4. awake bronchoscopy
  5. deliver and teaching of front of neck airway techniques: ultrasound guided, mannequin, cadaver
  6. jet ventilation (tube-less surgeries)
  7. apnoeic oxygenation and ventilation techniques
  • using investigations like CT head & neck and CT chest to aid the planning of complex airway management
  • use of innovative techniques for complex airway management
  • use of point of care ultrasound of the airway.
Personal Activities and Personal Reflections may include:
  • national and international meetings related to management of patients with complex airways
  • difficult airway training courses
  • presentation at relevant meeting ie abstract or free paper
  • development of guidelines and policies related to airway management
  • leadership of QI projects related to airway management
  • involvement with local/regional educational programs for teaching airway skills
  • leadership training
  • attendance at MDT ENT - radiology teaching sessions.
  • attendance at ENT clinics (nasendoscopy experience)
  • attendance at respiratory bronchoscopy sessions.
Other evidence:
  • satisfactory MSF.

Suggested supervision level

  • 4 - should be able to manage independently with no supervisor involvement (although should inform consultant supervisor as appropriate to local protocols).

Cross links with other domains and capabilities

  • all generic professional domains of learning
  • General Anaesthesia