Airway Management SIG

The main objective of the Airway Management SIG is the promotion of science, education, exchange and distribution of ideas between anaesthetists with a particular interest and involvement in airway management. The group collaborate and have established links with other airway societies both within Australia and New Zealand and internationally.

The Airway Management SIG was set up to advance all aspects of airway management through the exchange of experience and knowledge.

Difficult Airway Alert

The Airway Management SIG have long aspired to consistent reporting of difficult airway information and we are working toward the ultimate goal of a patient protective airway database.

The Queensland Difficult Airway Alert project has developed a standardised airway alert form supported by a background document with agreed definitions for difficult airway, difficulty with bag mask ventilation, supraglottic airway ventilation and tracheal intubation, both direct and videolaryngoscopy. The documents provide guidance on when an alert should be generated and how difficult airway information is disseminated.

The working group has also made additions to the SNOMED clinical terms system to allow for difficult airway information to be more accurately reflected in electronic health records. A longer term the goal is to utilise this standardised form into a point of care database for difficult airway alert information. In Australia this will need to be achieved through My Health Record and consultation with the Australian Digital Health Agency towards this intention is in progress.

The form has recently been updated after broad consultation with users of the form and airway experts across Australia and New Zealand. It reflects contemporary thinking on how best to relay information regarding a difficult airway. ANZCA are pleased to endorse the form and encourage its use to standardise communication surrounding this important clinical event.

The form can easily be rebranded for any local hospital or health service or an ANZCA branded version can be utilised by individual practitioners. The copyright agreement with QLD Statewide Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care Clinical Network (SWAPNet) require the copyright information to remain in the left border of the document and no clinical information to be altered. If you would like further information regards the form the SWAPNet co-ordinator can be contacted via email.

Executive committee

Position

Name

Region

Chair and newsletter editor

Dr Linda Beckmann

Qld

Executive member

Dr Maryanne Balkin

Vic

Chair - Victoria Airway Leads group

Dr Rani Chahal

Vic

Education Liaison and newsletter support liaison

Dr Gordon Chapman

WA

Education liaison and newsletter support liaison

Dr Scott Douglas

WA

Airway lead in South Australia

Dr Yasmin Endlich

SA

Honorary member

Dr Andy Heard

WA

New South Wales lead

Dr Gerri Khong

NSW

Environment and sustainability - supporting the SIG in an advisory role

A/Prof Forbes McGain

Vic

Honorary member

Professor Ellen O'Sullivan

Ireland

Education liaison

Dr Adam Rehak

NSW

Airway leads in South Australia and Northern Territory

Dr Richard Semenov

SA

Newsletter support liaison and NSW Airway lead

Dr Tish Stefanutto

NSW

Research liaison

Professor André Van Zundert

Qld

Equipment and industrial liaison, airway leads in New Zealand

Dr Patrick Wong

NZ

Contact us

For further information, please contact us or visit the ACE website.

Airway leads networks

The Airway Management Special Interest Group (SIG) is developing a network of airway leads throughout the Australian healthcare sector. Members will work collaboratively to improve airway management in anaesthesia. A similar network already exists in New Zealand.

Find out more

Airway management resources

Access a wide range of resources related to airway management through the ANZCA Library.

Find out more

Apply to join a SIG

Joining a SIG is the perfect way to meet like-minded people; exchange ideas; and shape the future of your sub-speciality or area of interest.

Find out more

Upcoming ACE events

From multi-day special interest group conferences to evening lectures at the local pub, there's an ACE event for everyone.
19 October 2024 - 20 October 2024 | Adelaide

Join us in Adelaide to explore the theme of 'reaching new heights'.

Find out more
27 July 2024 - 28 July 2024 | Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Join us for the 2024 Melbourne Winter Anaesthetic Meeting at the Sofitel on Collins

Find out more
9 November 2024 - 10 November 2024 | Hunter Valley

Join us in the Hunter Valley for the NSW ACE Spring Meeting 2024.

Find out more
15 June 2024 | Sydney

Join us at the Hilton Hotel Sydney for the NSW ACE winter meeting 2024.

Find out more
16 August 2024 - 18 August 2024 | Uluru

Save the date for the 2024 Rural SIG meeting to be held at the Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru...

Find out more
30 July 2024 - 3 August 2024 | Thredbo Alpine Hotel

The 2024 Scan and Ski Workshop has unfortunately been cancelled.

Find out more
15 November 2024 - 17 November 2024 | Bunker Bay

Contemplation – Learning from experience in obstetrics.

Find out more
23 April 2024 | Osborne Park

2024 WA ACE Lecture Series will be held once per month in the ANZCA WA Office. This series...

Find out more
19 November 2025 - 22 November 2025 | ICC Sydney

Join us in Sydney for the 2025 Tri-Society Cardiac & Thoracic Symposium (3SCTS) in collaboration...

Find out more
9 April 2024 | Free webinar

What are the unseen environmental impacts of single use surgical gowns? Should we be reusing...

Find out more

What's new in airway management

Explore the latest airway management news

EMAC course

Effective Management of Anaesthetic Crises (EMAC) is a simulation-based course focused on managin...

Find out more

Other special interest groups

ANZCA, the ASA, and the NZSA jointly manage 17 SIGs as part of the ACE partnership.

Rural SIG

The Rural SIG is one of 17 SIGs jointly managed by ANZCA, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists...

Find out more

Trauma SIG

The Trauma SIG exists to co-ordinate resources, provide education and deliver updates to anaesthe...

Find out more
Last updated 15:14 1.02.2024