ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses health issues related to airway. It also explains risk factors for aspiration, prevention of aspiration, complications and management of suspected aspiration for the same. These issues include airway and aspiration risk, artificial airways, difficult airway, difficult airway - management, difficult airway - new devices, difficult airway - prediction, effect of general anaesthesia on the airway and upper alimentary canal, hypoxaemia under anaesthesia and paediatric airway. Inhalation of gastric contents into the tracheobronchial tree produces chemical pneumonia due to the acidic pH of the gastric contents. In the general population, the incidence of aspiration is low; however, during unexpected difficult intubation the risk is higher. Recent advances in technology have enabled the development of various airway devices to ensure safe airway management. The primary aim of airway management is to provide oxygenation. When difficulty arises, a safe method of oxygenating the patient should be adopted.
