Tag: Difficult airway

According to research, up to 1% of emergency department intubations can result in a “failed airway” if not managed properly. The LEMON rule in anesthesia is a critical mnemonic device used by clinicians to perform a rapid and systematic assessment for potential airway management difficulties before proceeding with intubation.

The word "bougie" is a French word that originally meant "candle," derived from the town of Bugia, an exporter of wax. In medicine, however, it has a completely different and vital definition, referring to a slender, flexible instrument used to explore, dilate, or guide tubes into passages of the body, offering a comprehensive answer to the question: What does bougie mean in medical terms?.

A bougie, or endotracheal tube introducer, has been shown to significantly increase first-pass success rates during intubation in difficult airways, with one randomized trial demonstrating a 96% success rate versus 82% with a traditional stylet. So, what are the indications for a bougie in its various forms, and for which medical procedures is this versatile tool used?

According to research published on StatPearls, a difficult airway is encountered in up to 3% of anesthetic procedures, making pre-procedure assessment crucial for patient safety. The 3 3 2 rule for anesthesia is a simple and rapid bedside assessment tool used by clinicians to predict the potential for a difficult intubation by evaluating key anatomical distances.