The difficult intubation kit.

A kit for difficult intubation can be assembled quickly from vascular catheters and sheaths commonly available in surgical facilities. The kit provides for continuous oxygen administration throughout all phases of its application in difficult upper airway management. Such applications include stylet-guided endotracheal intubation, cricothyroid puncture, transtracheal ventilation, and translaryngeal catheter-guided retrograde tracheal intubation. A technical description of the Difficult Intubation Kit and guidelines for its use in difficult airway management are presented.