Administered with propofol 2 mg/kg, the remifentanil dose necessary to produce acceptable intubating conditions, 2 mcg/kg, produces apnea that carries a significant risk of desaturation, whereas a remifentanil dose of 1.5 mcg/kg does not reliably produce acceptable intubating conditions and does not eliminate the risk of desaturation.

Airway Management is the key for anaesthetists dealing with patients undergoing diagnostic procedures and surgical interventions. The present coronavirus pandemic underpins even more how important safe airway management is. It also highlights the need to apply stringent precautions to avoid infection and ongoing transmission to patients, anaesthetists and other healthcare workers (HCWs). In light of this extraordinary global situation the aim of this article is to update the reader on the varied aspects of the ever-changing tasks anaesthetists are involved in and highlight the equipment, devices and techniques that have evolved in response to changing technology and unique patient and surgical requirements.

Acute upper airway obstruction (UAO) is a life threatening complication that is well recognized after carotid endarterectomy, thyroidectomy and pharyngeal area intervention. It is not widely acknowledged that airway obstruction can occur after cervical spinal fusion surgery which was first described in 1955. There are a number of common postoperative problems which may become apparent in the short to medium term. These include: sore throat, dysphagia, hoarseness, dysphonia, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and soft tissue swelling.