Version August 2025
| Assess for potential difficulty with airway management using history and physical examination |
| Sedate or anesthetize adequately during airway management |
| Use neuromuscular blockade for intubation unless spontaneous breathing is required |
| Use VL with a standard blade for first attempt at intubation* |
| Use apneic oxygenation during tracheal intubation in neonates, selectively in infants |
| Consider using a supraglottic airway for rescue oxygenation and ventilation |
| Limit the number of tracheal intubation attempts |
| Use a stylet when using a hyperangulated VL blade |
| Verify correct ETT placement with clinical assessment and ETCO2 waveform |
| Consider using respiratory support after extubation (eg, high-flow nasal oxygen, CPAP, or nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation) |
BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; ESAIC: European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care; ETCO2: end tidal carbon dioxide; ETT: endotracheal tube; NMBA: neuromuscular blocking agents; VL: video laryngoscopy.
* Practice varies among UpToDate contributors. Some use VL routinely for first attempt at intubation, whereas others use VL selectively based on patient factors and clinical circumstances.