New Building Blocks for the Airway Algorithm

The introduction of modern optical airway devices permits a number of new options for safer management of the difficult airway. As the American Society of Anesthesiology Task Force endeavors to update the standardized Difficult Airway Algorithm of 2003 (1), we would like to offer a modular addition to the existing algorithm (Fig. 1). This module can prompt further discussion and provide an initiative for further review and update of the algorithm. In addition, there is opportunity to build on current concepts in the management of the difficult airway (2-5).