Identification of difficult airways in critical care units (ID-ACCT). Response to Br J Anaesth 2026; 137: 309–10

The article is a response to comments on a national study examining current practice in the United Kingdom regarding identification and airway management planning for patients with difficult airways in critical care units. The authors welcome the discussion on the use of point-of-care ultrasound as part of clinical airway assessment and accurate risk stratification of airway difficulty in critically ill patients. Large observational studies in intensive care unit populations suggest that inadequacies in identifying patients at risk of airway-related complications contribute to significant morbidity and mortality. Discussion of this topic is important for improving patient safety.