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The American Society of Anesthesiologists has developed an algorithm for handling difficult airways. Although each patient must be evaluated on an individual basis, conditions generally associated with difficult intubations include:
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Oral/pharyngeal tumors, hemangiomas or hematomas
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Infections such as submandibular or peritonsillar abscesses or epiglottitis
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Congenital Anomalies such as Pierre Ronin Syndrome, Laryngeal atresia or craniofacial dysostosis
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Foreign body
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Facial trauma such as laryngeal, maxillary or mandibular fracture, Cervical spine injury
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Inhalational burn
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Obesity
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Inadequate neck extension due to rheumatoid arthritis, cervical stenosis or ankylosing spondylitis
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Anatomic Variations such as micrognathia, prognathism, macroglossia, arched palate, short neck, prominent incisors or buck teeth.
Click here to visit the American Society of Anesthesiologist's Difficult Airway Guidelines.
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