[Anaesthetic incidents - Airway management and injuries in anaesthesia - closed claims of the North German Arbitration Board].

Injuries related to the airway management belong to the most often observed anaesthesia-related complications. Injuries of the trachea and the oesophagus possibly require surgical treatment. The most severe injuries caused by the airway management are the hypoxic brain damage and the patient's death. Tracheal injuries happen foremost as a result of tracheal intubation. Symptoms like subcutaneous emphysema and dyspnea are likely a sign of a tracheal lesion and need to be examined by Thorax-CT and endoscopy of the airways. In order to avoid injuries, medical treatment has to be applied with the appropriate care and strict adherence to the manufacturer's requirements regarding the use of the assisting devices necessary for the tracheal intubation. While some of he cases presented have to be assessed as of fateful origin, others are clearly the results of medical errors.