What should be done if a patient is assessed to have a difficult airway?

Maintaining protective airway reflexes is crucial when assessing a patient with a difficult airway. This approach ensures that the patient's own mechanisms for preventing airway obstruction remain intact. Even in a situation where the airway may pose challenges, it’s vital to uphold these reflexes as they provide a first line of defense against aspiration and airway compromise.

In a scenario involving a difficult airway, engaging in sedation without further evaluation can lead to loss of these reflexes, increasing the risk of respiratory complications. Performing an immediate intubation without appropriate preparation or assessment can lead to unsuccessful attempts and exacerbate the situation. Canceling the procedure entirely may not be necessary or practical; instead, it may be more beneficial to consider alternative approaches or techniques for airway management while safeguarding the patient's reflexive abilities. Therefore, prioritizing the maintenance of protective airway reflexes is the most disciplined and sensible response in managing a patient with a difficult airway.