From Battlefield to Bedside: Approaches to Emergency Airway Control.
Anesthesiology clinics · 2025-11-24 · Other / unclear
Abstract
Combat medicine has driven major advances in emergency airway management, with innovations such as rapid sequence intubation, video laryngoscopy, and front-of-neck access now widely adopted in civilian practice. This review synthesizes contemporary evidence on airway management, emphasizing the translation of military techniques into civilian protocols, device design, and training-including simulation and real-time feedback. It addresses physiologic challenges in trauma and highlights strategies like head-elevated positioning and pharmacologic support. Global disparities are discussed, with examples of low-cost equipment and remote training in resource-limited settings. Military-derived innovations have improved first-pass success and safety, shaping future directions for equitable airway care worldwide.
Tags
Cricothyroidotomy · Endotracheal intubation · Low- and middle-income settings · Military & tactical · Rapid sequence intubation · Video laryngoscopy