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StatPearls, LLC

  • Airway Management
  • Intubation

Difficult Airway

A difficult airway occurs when a trained clinician anticipates or encounters difficulty with any aspect of airway management, including facemask ventilation, supraglottic airway placement, tracheal intubation, or emergency front-of-neck access. Modern airway management emphasizes structured planning, maintenance of oxygenation, maximizing first-pass success, and early recognition and declaration of difficulty. Anatomic, physiologic, and situational factors may all contribute to airway challenges, requiring clinicians to apply systematic assessment and escalation strategies. Increasingly, human-factors principles, effective teamwork, and the use of cognitive aids are recognized as essential components of safe airway management and improved patient outcomes. This continuing education activity reviews the recognition and evaluation of difficult airways and outlines evidence-based strategies for preparation and management. The activity also highlights the role of interprofessional collaboration, structured airway plans, and crisis resource management principles in optimizing patient safety. By participating in this activity, healthcare professionals strengthen their ability to anticipate airway difficulty, implement appropriate management pathways, and respond effectively to airway emergencies.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

AAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsNursingUp to 1.5 creditsPharmacyUp to 1.5 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABOS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPM — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABA — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 1.5 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABPM — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABOHNS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABIM — Patient SafetyUp to 1.5 pointsABPM — Patient SafetyUp to 1.5 pointsABOHNS — Patient SafetyUp to 1.5 pointsABA — Patient SafetyUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Patient SafetyUp to 1.5 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 12 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • Credit · Up to 1.5 credits
  • MOC · Up to 1.5 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

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