Addressing Complex Intubations

Intubations do not always work on the first try. Two years ago, right before the pandemic started, Dr. Tweel developed a Difficult Airway Response Team. When an intubation failed, an emergency page was sent to a group of specialists from Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This multidisciplinary team would respond to the patient’s bedside and work together to find the best way to establish an airway for the patient. Since COVID-19, the program has become even more popular. “We are seeing a large improvement in intubating patients by having an established standard of care and following these best practices,” explains Dr. Tweel. “Our goal is to improve safety, reduce complications, and obviate the need for emergency airway surgeries like tracheostomy.”