Documentation and dissemination of patient information characterizing a difficult airway encounter is a critical safety link between past, present, and future health care providers. Effective communication of the nature of the difficulty encountered and the airway management techniques used consists of documentation in the patient's medical record for concurrent care providers and dissemination of that information to the patient and future providers for use during subsequent episodes of care. Significant progress has been made with developing national and international electronic patient record systems and airway databases, but full integration has yet to be achieved.
Keywords: Airway databases; Airway documentation; Airway registries; Difficult airway letter; Hospital information systems; MedicAlert national difficult airway/intubation registry; Patient notification.
Published by Elsevier Inc.