Course Prework
The Difficult Airway Course: Anesthesia was created by airway experts in Anesthesiology and is continuously updated to incorporate the latest advancements in the field. Taught by a faculty with an unparalleled passion for teaching, this advanced program features hands-on sessions and coaching throughout to enhance skills in these areas:
  • Defensible decision-making in difficult airway management, including skills in awake tracheal intubation.
  • The 'can't intubate / can't oxygenate' emergency is a rare yet potentially fatal event. A surgical airway can save this situation - join us to learn this live-saving skill.
  • Extubation skills, including when and how to use airway exchange catheters.
  • Crisis team leadership and communication skills - empowering your team and yourself.
Our hands-on, intensely interactive approach to learning emphasizes the evidence, reinforces skills and provides the assurance of being at the leading edge of airway management. Read more

View attendance policy in effect for 2022 courses: Click here

Upcoming Dates and Locations

San Diego, CA
November 11 ‐ 13, 2022
Register

Course Fees:

Regular Tuition:
$1,500 USD
Gold Rate Tuition:
$1,300 USD
For Nurse Anesthetists and Anesthesiologist Assistants
Silver Rate Tuition:
$1,100 USD
For Residents, Fellows and SCP Health Medical Staff
Lung Separation Workshop:
$350 USD
Optional pre-course workshop

Cancellation Policy

2022 COVID-19 Cancellation Policy

If Airway Management Education Center (AMEC) is required to cancel a course due to Federal or State COVID-19 restrictions or other safety concerns, all attendees will receive a 100% refund. Alternatively, registrants may transfer to another course at no cost.

For cancellations initiated by the registrants, the standard Cancellation Fee of $100 will apply.

There will be no reschedule fees in 2022.

No refunds will be granted to those who do not attend the Course without having made prior arrangements for cancellation or transfer.

So happy the course happened live! Even with COVID precautions the hands-on sessions were great and faculty was so helpful!

Attendee, San Diego, 2021

This course is a vital part of my anesthetic practice. After over 20 years of experience, I appreciate the content and hands-on skills stations to refine my practice. I always come out of this course a better clinician and will continue to attend as long as I am practice. Best conference I have ever attended hands down!

Lisa Harrison, CRNA, Washington

This is singularly the best CME course I have been to in my 25 years in practice! I believe this should become the ACLS for Airway and a requirement for all anesthesia residents to graduate their training program. Thank you!!

Jill A. Antoine, MD, Massachusetts

This was my third time in 10 years attending the course. I learn something new each time!

Thomas M. Toal, MD, Ithaca, NY

This is hands down the best CME event I’ve done in my 35 years as an anesthesiologist. Keep up the splendid work!

Michael Sopchak, MD, Pennsylvania

Highlights include: 

Thousands of physicians world-wide come to our course for intensive training in the most critical elements of difficult airway management. Highlights include:

  • Instruction by a world-class faculty of airway experts with an unparalleled passion for teaching.
  • Content, techniques and “pearls” that benefit even the most experienced providers.
  • Hands-on sessions featuring challenging Code Airway™ stations.
  • Focus on difficult airway management, difficult extubation, failed airway management and crisis team leadership.
  • Dynamic and interactive learning environment.
  • Up-to-date evidence

Hands-on Training in Crucial Airway Techniques

  • Awake Intubation — When & How
  • Topical Anesthesia
  • Open Cricothyrotomy
  • Extubation and Tube Exchange
  • Crisis Team Leadership
  • Video Laryngoscopy
  • Flexible Endoscopic Intubation
  • Lighted and Fiberoptic Intubating Stylets and Guides
  • Techniques for the Obese Patient
  • Simulation Case Reinforcing Cognitive Information

Endorsed By
Tuition Includes

 

The Airway Card™ Anesthesia.

 

Lung Separation Workshop
Optional Pre-Course Workshop
  • Left and Right double lumen tube placement with confirmation of placement and troubleshooting
  • Use of bronchial blockers
  • Options for lung separation in the face of difficult airways

Enrollment is limited, so please apply early.
Add the Lung Separation Workshop during registration for The Difficult Airway Course: Anesthesia!

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of SCP Health and Airway Management Education Center (AMEC). SCP Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA CME Credit

SCP Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM.  An additional 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM will be awarded for the Lung Separation Workshop.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AANA Prior Approval

This program has been prior approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology for 17.75 Class A CE credits; Code Number 1041753; Expiration Date 11/13/2022.

Lung Separation Workshop

This program has been prior approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology for 3.50 Class A CE credits; Code Number 1041776; Expiration Date 11/13/2022.

NCCAA CME Credit

National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) will accept CME credit for programs approved for continuing education credit by the American Medical Association (AMA), American Association of Physicians Assistants (AAPA), and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

Schedule Download PDF

2022 Typical Course Schedule (final schedule distributed on-site)

Day 1

Lung Separation Workshop (optional/pre-registration required)

6:30-7:30 am

Optional Workshop Registration/Continental Breakfast

7:30-8:00 am

Introduction to Lung Separation

8:00-11:15 am

Left-sided DLT placement, confirmation and troubleshooting.
Right-sided DLT placement, confirmation and troubleshooting.
Placement of Bronchial Blockers

The Difficult Airway Course: Anesthesia

11:00 – 11:45 am

Registration

11:45 - 12:15 pm

Course Introduction: Welcome

12:15 - 12:55 pm

Difficult Airway Decisions

12:55 - 1:15 pm

Airway Anatomy

1:15 - 1:30 pm

Live Self-Scope Demonstration

1:30 - 1:45 pm

Break/Exhibits

1:45 - 2:45 pm

Difficult Airways & Awake Intubation

2:45 - 3:00 pm

Break/Exhibits

3:00 - 6:00 pm

Workshops:

Emergency Awake Intubation

Non-Emergency Awake Intubation

Management of the Difficult Airway/Awake Intubation

Day 2

6:30 - 7:30 am

Registration/Breakfast

Cornerstone: Managing the Failed Airway

7:30-8:30 am

Definition & Failed Algorithms/Failed Intubation & Failed Oxygenation

8:30 - 8:45 am

Break

8:45 am – 10:15 pm

Workshops:
Management of the Failed Airway
Surgical Management of the Failed Airway

Case Discussions:
Failed Intubation/Failed Oxygenation

10:15 - 10:30 am

Break

10:30am - 12:00pm

Workshops:
Management of the Failed Airway
Surgical Management of the Failed Airway

Case Discussions:
Failed Intubation/Failed Oxygenation

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch (provided)

Skills Practice

1:00 - 1:15 pm

Break

Cornerstone: Managing an Airway Crisis

1:15-2:15 pm

Crisis Leadership in Airway Management

2:15 – 2:30 pm

Break

2:30 – 5:00 pm

Code Airway™ Simulations

Day 3

Cornerstone: Endotracheal Tube Exchange & Extubation of the Difficult Airway

6:30-7:30 am

Registration/Continental Breakfast

7:30-8:30 am

Extubation and Airway Exchange Catheters

8:30-10:30 am

Case Discussions: Cases Using Airway Exchange Catheters
Workshop: Airway Exchange Catheters & Additional FOB

10:30-11:30 am

Interactive Exam Review and Final Wrap-up

This course is a vital part of my anesthetic practice. After over 20 years experience, I always appreciate the content and hands-on skill stations to refine my practice every 5 years or so. I always come out of this course a better clinician and will continue to attend as long as I am practicing. The best conference I have ever attended hands down!
Lisa Harrison, CRNA
Vancouver, WA
"Hands-down the best conference I have ever attended. Excellent lectures, small group discussions, and interactive stations. Thanks for all your hard work. It clearly shows in this course."
Attendee, San Diego 2021
"This is hands down the best CME event I've done in my 35 years as an anesthesiologist. Keep up the splendid work!"
Michael Sopchak, MD
Pennsylvania
"This course was excellent. A must for all anesthesiologists. The faculty was exceptional."
Richard T. Warner, MD
Connecticut
This was my third time in 10 years attending the course. I learn something new each time!
Thomas M. Toal, MD
Ithaca, NY
"Outstanding! Time and money very well spent. Knowledgeable and entertaining faculty."
Susan Cambria, CRNA
Connecticut
"Excellent course. I highly recommend it to all anesthesiologists. Anesthesia residents should take this course before graduating. Excellent faculty."
Albert Chuang, MD
California
"This is singularly the best CME course I have been to in my 25 years in practice! I believe this should become the ACLS for Airway and a requirement for all anesthesia residents to graduate their training program. Thank you!!"
Jill A. Antoine, MD
Massachusetts
"This course provides an excellent systematic approach to evaluating different airways. It is a great help to my practice."
Jerome Aul, MD
Virginia
"I hoped this was going to be the really top airway course out there — it was! Thanks."
Vincent Martinez, CRNA, MS
California

Purpose & Objectives

This course is designed to provide participants with state-of-the-art information and hands-on experience with the most critical elements of airway management to ensure effective and appropriate management of the airway. Upon successful completion of the course, the participant will be able to:
1
Perform an airway assessment to predict difficulty
2
Describe the key elements of the difficult airway.
3
Describe the steps of awake intubation.
4
Identify a failed airway, describe and perform an effective response.
5
Perform an emergency surgical airway.
6
Demonstrate safe extubation and tube exchange techniques, including use of airway exchange catheters.
7
Be aware of effective communication techniques, team leadership and other human factors to optimize airway management.
8
Identify airway management techniques for treating highly infectious viral patients.

Target Audience

The Difficult Airway Course: Anesthesia is intended for anesthesia-trained healthcare providers including
Anesthesiologists, Nurse Anesthetists and Anesthesiologist Assistants.

Endorsed by: