Pediatric airway issues

This article discusses advances in the management of the pediatric airway a nd describes the different uses of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA; LMA Nort h America, San Diego, CA), its facilitation of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation, its usage for difficult intubations, and its role in neonatal resuscitation. The recently introduced cuffed oro pharyngeal airway (COPA; Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, MO) is compared with the LMA, and appropriate employment of various radiologic modes for imaging the airway in a variety of disorders is elucidated. In addition, current manag ement strategies for croup and the evolution of epiglottitis are discussed. Steroid use for postextubation strider is presented and new ideas and stra tegies for airway management in pediatric burn patients are described.