KISS- Keep it Simple Yet Safe: A Dependable Option in Anticipated Difficult Airways

Abstract

Difficult airway guidelines provide an algorithmic approach as suggested by many international societies and journals. These guidelines have always been made with an earnest conviction at securing an airway with utmost safety and they provide a framework in times of difficulty. These guidelines are likely to add complexity with technological advances and gadgets available at hand like video laryngoscopes, fibreoptic bronchoscope etc., that may confuse the anaesthesiologist and hinder the decision making process. KISS- Keep it Simple, Stupid!- A concept well known, was first used in aviation which advices the pilot to keep things simple. We applied the same principle to our airway management protocol by modifying it into ‘Keep it simple yet safe’. The current case series describes 10 subjects which seemed to have a difficult access to airway and intubation. These patients were difficult to ventilate or difficult to intubate. Cases were successfully managed by applying this KISS technique. Due care was taken to keep our difficult airway cart ready as an alternative option.

Keywords

• algorithm
• anaesthesiology
• basic life support
• emergency intubation
• guidelines