Managing the newborn infant with a difficult airway

Airway management is a core skill in neonatology and proficiency in managing the difficult airway may be life-saving in an acute emergency. In the following article the authors outline a three-step intervention which aims to improve neonatal airway management within the Southern West Midlands Newborn Network. It encompasses a structured skills training programme in airway management combined with simple guidelines, to enable rapid decisions to be made at times of crises. Frequent reinforcement of such training should lead to skill retention, improved knowledge, a boosting of confidence and may improve patient outcomes.

Lauren C Johansen, Richard H Mupanemunda, Ratidzo F Danha