Characterization of aspects related to the difficult airway

Introduction: the difficult airway is defined as the clinical situation in which difficulty is experienced with ventilation of the upper airway with the face mask, difficulty with tracheal intubation, or both.Objective: to characterize aspects related to the difficult airway.Method: a review of the available literature was carried out using the analytical synthetic and logical historical methods through articles retrieved from databases such as SciELO, Scopus and ClinicalKey. A total of 12 references were selected that addressed the main characteristics of the topic in question.Results: airway management, conceptualized as the set of maneuvers and use of devices that allow adequate ventilation. Intubation difficulties can occur even in cases considered easy in the assessment. Correct management of the airway (VA) and the difficult airway (DA) is essential in intensive care units (ICU). The evaluation and prediction of a difficult airway in the pediatric patient is of great importance for its correct management. Hypoxia is the cause most often related to death due to airway management. Awake treatment is the option of choice to secure a difficult airway.Conclusions: airway management and maintenance of adequate oxygenation are central objectives in every patient who enters the emergency department. If a difficult airway is encountered, an emergency situation may occur, with deleterious consequences for the patient.