ABSTRACT
Airway loss is a major cause of preventable prehospital deaths (1). Trauma airway management is complicated due to associated pathology, suboptimal intubating conditions, and because full preintubation evaluation and planning is rarely possible. Furthermore, trauma patients are at increased risk for hypoxia, airway obstruction, hypoventilation, hypotension, and aspiration. Optimum management of the trauma airway requires proper evaluation, preparation, and expeditious execution with readily available backup rescue options (i.e., plan “B”).
