RT Book, Section A1 McKeen, Dolores M. A1 Davies, Jo A2 Hung, Orlando R. A2 Murphy, Michael F. SR Print(0) ID 1146619551 T1 What Is Unique About the Obstetrical Airway? T2 Hung's Difficult and Failed Airway Management, 3e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259640544 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1146619551 RD 2024/03/28 AB The ability to maintain a patent airway, provide adequate oxygenation, and place an endotracheal tube (ETT) remains a major concern for airway practitioners. Despite many equipment advances and the development of airway algorithms to guide care, management of the obstetric airway is still a cause for concern. Obstetrical anesthesia is a high-risk practice that is replete with medico-legal liability and laden with clinical challenges. On the obstetric service, the practitioner is required to provide safe anesthesia care to mother and baby, both of whom have unique and demanding anatomical and physiological requirements. The purpose of this chapter is to briefly review the status of maternal morbidity/mortality, highlight the principal reasons that airways of parturients might be difficult to manage, and review current guidelines and algorithms for the management of the obstetrical airway.