Emergency management of the trauma airway

Of the 81 patients with cervical vertebral body fractures and no signs of spinal cord injury, 26 required intubation. [...]an inferior view may lead to a longer time or failure to secure the airway. The beneficial effects of manual inline stabilization must be weighed against the possibility of hypoxic damage if intubation and ventilation cannot be accomplished. [...]manual inline stabilization may be reduced if its use impedes tracheal intubation. 1 Video laryngoscopy and supraglottic airways A variety of airway adjuncts are available to the laryngoscopist as alternatives to direct laryngoscopy.