American Society of Anesthesiologists difficult airway algorithm

SGA: supraglottic airway; LMA: laryngeal mask airway; ILMA: intubating laryngeal mask airway.
* Confirm ventilation, tracheal intubation, or SGA placement with exhaled CO₂.
¶ Invasive airway access includes surgical or percutaneous airway, jet ventilation, and retrograde intubation.
Δ Other options include (but are not limited to): surgery utilizing face mask or supraglottic airway (SGA) anesthesia (eg, LMA, ILMA, laryngeal tube), local anesthesia infiltration, or regional nerve blockade. Pursuit of these options usually implies that mask ventilation will not be problematic. Therefore, these options may be of limited value if this step in the algorithm has been reached via the Emergency Pathway.
◊ Alternative difficult intubation approaches include (but are not limited to): video-assisted laryngoscopy, alternative laryngoscope blades, SGA (eg, LMA or ILMA) as an intubation conduit (with or without fiberoptic guidance), fiberoptic intubation, intubating stylet or tube changer, light wand, and blind oral or nasal intubation.
§ Emergency noninvasive airway ventilation consists of a SGA.
¥ Consider re-preparation of the patient for awake intubation or canceling surgery.