Evidence indicates that the airway community has successfully conquered the anatomically difficult airway, as these patients are managed safely with a low incidence of morbidity and mortality.

In contrast, the literature suggests that critically ill patients with physiologically difficult airways continue to suffer serious adverse events, including death, from emergency airway management.

It is time now for the airway community to focus our clinical and research efforts on improving outcomes in patients with physiologically difficult airways.

The term difficult airway is a concept well appreciated by airway managers around the world.

In its broadest sense, it can be defined as challenges associated with any of the four methods of oxygenation: tracheal intubation, face mask ventilation, supraglottic airway ventilation, and emergency front-of-neck airway

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