Introduction

 

 

The practice of airway management (AM) changed with time, as evidenced by the introduction of a number of new devices and techniques; several of them are included in recently published guidelines and recommendations for difficult airway (DA) management (1, 12, 15]. The process in which anesthesia residents are educated in the use of these devices and techniques is variable and frequently nonuniform. 

 

Structured teaching and training of AM techniques and practising strategies for DA management should be an integral part of any anesthesia residency training program (4). Subspeciality rotations, for example rotations through obstetric and pediatric anesthesia, guided by instructors with appropriate expertise are usually provided, but only few anesthesia residency programs have airway rotations or equivalent training programs (7, 9). Therefore it is not surprising, that anesthesia residents lack special knowledge and practical skills in handling the DA (16). 

 

There are no data available on teaching and training of residents in AM at anesthesia departments in Austria. In a comprehensive survey questionnaire for the year 2004, questions were also prepared to evaluate their residency training in AM techniques. The results of this survey were intended to establish a basis for improvements.

 

 

Materials and Methods