Airway management in patients with suspected or confirmed cervical spine injury

Despite a lack of supporting evidence, airway management in patients with suspected or confirmed cervical spine injury is traditionally thought to increase the risk of worsening existing neurological deficits (secondary spinal cord injury) or risk of causing a new spinal cord injury (primary spinal cord injury). Although there has been evidence synthesis for specific elements of airway management in this setting, there has been little guidance to support clinical decision-making for airway management in this cohort of patients.

These guidelines focus on the impact of airway management on cervical spine-related safety outcomes rather than efficacy of different airway management techniques. Whilst these two are related, the primary aim is to support clinicians in performing airway management whilst minimising the risk of airway complications and cervical spine cord injury.