Difficult Airways

Difficult Airways by Kelsey Rideout is a clinically focused course that challenges providers to move beyond routine airway management and prepare for the patients who do not follow textbook expectations. Rideout emphasizes that difficult airways are rarely a surprise in hindsight, and that early recognition, planning, and adaptability are essential to preventing airway failure in the prehospital and emergency care settings.

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The class explores anatomical, physiological, and situational factors that contribute to airway difficulty, including obesity, trauma, airway contamination, limited patient access, hypoxia, and time‑sensitive deterioration. Rideout highlights how stress, environment, and cognitive overload can compound these challenges, often leading to fixation or delayed decision‑making. Rather than focusing solely on devices, the course reinforces the importance of airway assessment, anticipation, and strategy.

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