Airway management for tonsillectomy: a national survey of UK practice

The emergence of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) prompted guidelines from the Department of Health that stress the use of disposable and protective equipment. This survey explores current methods of airway management for tonsillectomy in the UK and ascertains anaesthetists’ current knowledge and opinions of the guidelines and of vCJD. Three hundred and five questionnaires were sent to all Royal College tutors across the UK to explore the current practice and adherence to the guidelines. The tracheal tube was the most frequently used airway across all age groups: 87% for