The difficult airway in severe facial trauma

Consideration of the airway is paramount in management of facial fractures in both the acute setting and delayed repair. As experts in laryngotracheal surgery, otolaryngologists often play a key role in airway management in both settings. On presentation, soft tissue edema and prolapse or presence of blood in the airway may complicate placement of an endotracheal tube and may necessitate emergent intervention. During planned fracture repair, surgeons and anesthesiologists must collaborate to determine a precise airway plan due to the inherent conflict of a need for a secure airway and a need for surgical access. It is our goal to review current techniques for securing the difficult airway in these patients.