Summary

(Un)anticipated difficult airway remains a challenge in anaesthesia. Percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation has been shown to be an adequate technique for temporary oxygenation and ventilation and has been described as an acknowledged method in emergency settings of an unanticipated difficult airway. These emergency settings can be considered as low incidence high-risk situations. Both technical and non-technical skills should be trained regularly as education and simulation continues to play an important factor in patient safety. Furthermore, postoperative laryngeal oedema due to altered lymphatic drainage patterns must be considered as a possible mechanism of an upper airway obstruction in combination with a history of neck dissection and radiotherapy.