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.

2023 Airway Management SIG meeting
The Airway Management SIG will hold a one day satellite meeting to the ASA NSC on Tuesday 3 October at the Melbourne Exhbition and Convention Centre. Registrations will open in early May. Please visit the meeting website for further information,

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

Airway lead in South Australia

Dr Yasmin Endlich

SA

Education Liaison and newsletter support liaison Dr Gordon Chapman WA
Executive member  Dr Maryanne Balkin Vic

Education liaison and newsletter support liaison

Dr Scott Douglas 

WA

Honorary member

Dr Andy Heard

WA

Education liaison

Dr Adam Rehak

NSW

Equipment and industrial liaison, airway leads in New Zealand

Dr Patrick Wong

NZ

Environment and sustainability - supporting the SIG in an advisory role

A/Prof Forbes McGain

Vic

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

Honorary member

Professor Ellen O'Sullivan

Ireland

New South Wales lead Dr Gerri Khong NSW

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.

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Airway management resources

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

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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.

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Upcoming ACE events

From multi-day special interest group conferences to evening lectures at the local pub, there's an ACE event for everyone.
3 October 2023 | Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

The Airway Management SIG meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 October at the Melbourne Exhibition...

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25 November 2023 | University of Sydney

Please join us for the 2023 NSW ACE Anatomy Workshop to be held at the University of Sydney.

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11 November 2023 - 12 November 2023 | Pacific Bay Resort

Join us for the 2023 NSW ACE Spring Meeting at Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour.

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1 August 2024 - 3 August 2024 | Thredbo Alpine Hotel

Join us for the "Regional ultrasound scanning workshop for peripheral nerve blocks" from Thursday...

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2 March 2024 - 3 March 2024 | Hotel Grand Chancellor

Join us for the 2024 Tasmanian Annual CME Weekend 'Diving off the deep end'

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22 November 2023 | Hotel Realm

Join us on Wednesday 22 November as we welcome Dr Ken Harrison for 'Flying high and safely: Human...

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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...

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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...

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Trauma SIG

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

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Last updated 16:50 16.05.2023