Brenner and colleagues presented national data from the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the
American Head and Neck Society, and the United Kingdom’s National Reporting and
Learning Service. Over half of US otolaryngologist respondents reported
instances of attempted oral intubations among patients with laryngectomy, with
a mortality rate of 26%. UK audits similarly revealed numerous resuscitation
efforts where misunderstanding of neck breather status led to harm or death.
The data underscore the critical importance of staff education, patient
engagement, effective signage, and systems-based best practices to reliably
clarify neck breather status and provide necessary resources for safe patient
airway management.
