Difficult Airway in Obstetrics

Pregnancy causes multisystem changes, including changes to the airway. The airway in the parturient is considered high risk due to tissue edema and potential for aspiration given the laxity of the lower esophageal sphincter. This chapter reviews the anesthetic options for an emergency cesarean section and discusses the anesthetic management of a difficult airway in obstetric anesthesia. In addition, this comprehensive chapter provides an overview of the materials needed to develop and implement a successful simulation, including a case scenario, narrative, and progression, as well as a scoring rubric for the evaluation of emergency cesarean and difficult airway management.