Complete airway obstruction by foreign body: Another anesthetic challenge. A brief review

In this brief review we present the challenging management of complete airway obstruction by foreign body, from the anesthesiologist's point of view. A case report is followed by a description of the clinical picture of airway obstruction and its management including the use of some nonconventional management alternatives. The review is concluded by proposing an airway obstruction management algorithm. Note: this brief review will not include any discussion on the complete airway obstruction resulting from a failed intubation - ventilation scenario caused by difficult airway.