Anamya Bhatia and Disha Yadav, 4th year medical students, University of Dundee
The 2025 edition of the Scottish International Head and Neck Conference showcased a virtual, interactive and highly educational event for delegates. This year’s conference focused on 'Advanced Airway Management in Otolaryngology,’ hosted by Conference Chair and Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon Jai Manickavasagam. 
The day began with Consultant Laryngologist Natalie Watson discussing vocal cord paresis, followed by Dr Andrea Ruscitto, Consultant Anaesthetist, offering insights on shared airway management and strategies for anaesthetists and surgeons to ensure optimal patient safety.
After a quick break, Consultant Paediatric ENT Surgeon Christopher Thompson presented key difficulties in managing a paediatric airway, highlighting their unique physiology and structure and the challenges this poses for management.
Jai Manickavasagam then spoke about surgical airway management and common indications for it. A key facet of this talk, and the conference overall, was the use of polls and a Q and A function during each talk. Despite its virtual nature, the use of these features made the conference interactive and engaging.
The afternoon session began with Consultant Laryngologist Sam Majumdar detailing airway challenges in non-malignant disease, particularly inflammatory and auto-immune conditions. He emphasised the complex treatment needs of these conditions and the need for multidisciplinary coordination when managing these patients while providing succinct and informative summaries of their pathophysiology. 
Dr Christina NG, Consultant Otolaryngologist, then joined from Singapore, delivering a talk on tracheostomy related complications, highlighting the need for prompt recognition and strategies for effective management.
Later, Consultant Laryngologist Mr Karagama presented on post-intubation airway stenosis, discussing how - despite its high incidence - it remains an underreported condition. Prof Rakesh Srivastava, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, followed with an engaging discussion of subglottic stenosis, reviewing current understandings of the disease and principles of cricotracheal reconstruction with pre- and post-operative patient monitoring. 
Dr Christina NG then joined from Singapore, delivering a talk on tracheostomy related complications, highlighting the need for prompt recognition of key complications and strategies for effectively managing them.
Later in the session, Mr Karagama gave a presentation on post-intubation airway stenosis, discussing how despite its relatively high incidence it remains an underreported condition. Dr Rakesh Srivastava followed this up with an engaging discussion of subglottic stenosis, reviewing current understandings of the disease as well as principles of cricotracheal reconstruction and pre- and post-operative monitoring of patients.
The day concluded with a panel discussion on complex airway management. This proved to be a true highlight of the conference, featuring a distinguished panel of clinicians detailing their approaches to managing real examples of patients with complex airway needs.
The conference was a highly successful online event, with engaging and enthusiastic presenters. Something to truly commend about the event is its international representation, featuring presenters from the UK, Singapore, India and other countries showcasing the global scope of advances in airway management.
