Abstract:
Tracheal intubation in primary health care is a necessary skill and usually one that is
necessary for appropriate emergency management of unstable patients. Primary care
practitioners may not have an anaesthetist or critical care doctor available to help them in
these emergencies and must manage these patients themselves. Often tracheal intubation
may fail because of multiple possible factors and a different course of action may be needed
to minimise the potential for harm to the patient. The primary care professional or family
physician will have to manage this failed intubation. Primary health care facilities providing
obstetric services must have guidelines and appropriate equipment for management of
airway problems. This article will explore reasons for the failure of tracheal intubation and
how this can be managed.
