Difficult Airway Management

There have been significant advances in the management of patients with difficult airways.  Recent recommendations suggest that training in airway management should be structured with provision of basic and advanced modules.   The College syllabus stresses the importance of difficult airway management training particularly fibreoptic intubation techniques, in various specialty modules.

A group of Consultants in the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics have set up excellent service provision for difficult airway management, in particular fibreoptic intubation techniques. The Airway group has a good track record of conducting, presenting and publishing clinical research in airway related topics. There are ongoing audit projects and encouragement is given to start new audit projects. The group are also well known for their organisation of local, regional and national fibreoptic and difficult airway workshops.

Airway training and teaching is organised for local trainees and theatre staff:

• Introductory advanced airway lecture for new trainees: Organised twice a year and consists of 2 presentations and many advanced airway workshop stations. It takes place in the department on a Tuesday afternoon (February and August). It is conducted by a group of consultants and previous airway fellows.
• Department Advanced Airway Training: This is a one to one training aimed for junior trainees. Trainees have the opportunity to practice airway skills recommended in the Difficult Airway Society Guidelines.
• Simulator Training: The Kadoorie centre at level 3, John Radcliffe hospital has a high-tech simulator room. The SimMan simulator has been used to train on the Difficult Airway Society guidelines.
• Anaesthetic nurses and ODP airway training:In order to help maintain and improve airway skills among the theatre ancillary, the airway group has contributed by organising dedicated airway sessions.

An Advanced Training Module (ATM) in difficult airway management is available only for trainees in programme at the Oxford School of Anaesthesia, and only in their penultimate year of training. Appointment is in open competition and selection is by interview.

Airway Advanced Training Module Job Description and Prospectus