Scenario 3 - failed intubation, increasing hypoxaemia and inadequate ventilation in the paralyzed anaesthetized patient.

This is the final common pathway of the previous scenarios, if adequate ventilation has not been established.

Its incidence is quoted as between 1 in 5000-10 000 anaesthetics, but as common as 1 in 500 of emergency intubations. Patients in whom intubation fails are much more likely to be difficult to mask ventilate also.

Refer to resources to view the algorithm for Scenario 3.