Introduction

When temporary mechanical ventilation is required, either in the treatment of respiratory failure, or during surgery with muscular relaxation, endotracheal intubation is usually the preferred method of airway management.

Why is this the preferred means of airway management?
The primary reason is that it provides a "protected" airway.

Protected from what you ask?
Well, protected from introduction of foreign matter, particularly gastric contents.

The accurate placement of an endotracheal tube requires skill. Usually the patient is rendered unconscious and immobile (including paralysis of the muscles of respiration) for the placement. Obviously inability to rapidly obtain control of the patient's airway in this setting would be "bad" if not lethal.

The airway examination is an effort to identify those patients in whom conventional endotracheal intubation will be difficult. It is vitally important to recognize such patients BEFORE administering medications that induce apnea.