Airway obstruction/management in the PACU

A morbidly obese female s/p gastric bypass is now desaturating into the mid 80's in the PACU.   She was intubated awake initially due to her airway anatomy.
References:
(note, all residents should have access to Anesthesiology articles online if they receive the journal.  Many other journals are available with a USF account through MD Consult...just access it from the departmental home page)
  1. Benumof JL.  Obstructive sleep apnea in the adult obese patient: implications for airway management. Anesthesiol Clin North America. 2002 Dec;20(4):789-811.
  2. ASA Practice Guidelines for Management of the Difficult Airway (pdf file)
  3. Rosenblatt W, Whipple J.  The Difficult Airway Algorithm of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Anesth Analg 2003;96:1233 (Editorial that kinda simplifies it -- pdf file)

Last updated 6/12/03 by Roy G. Soto, M.D.
© 2003, Roy G. Soto, M.D., and the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology