Every anaesthetist fears the moment they might become faced with a “can’t intubate, can’t oxygenate” (CICO) scenario, but thankfully such events are exceedingly rare. They nevertheless receive much attention in the academic literature.

The results from this online survey of Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists finds that most hospitals keep CICO equipment in every anaesthetic room in dedicated packs.

As this is probably not common practice elsewhere, maybe it is probably about time we all caught up. Kelly and Duggan discuss preparing for and preventing CICO events, and call for clinicians’ worldwide to examine the design of their working environment.

At the same time, the need to prepare for CICO events is superseded, arguably, by the need to prevent them from happening in the first place.

Perhaps it is good timing then, that Chrimes, Higgs and Sakles write in this month’s issue to welcome us to the era of universal airway management.

Their guidelines are anticipated eagerly.

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