CICO Airway Crisis Masterclass at ACORN 2026
Feb 10, 2026
[3min read]
Periop Concepts is proud to present a high-impact airway education masterclass at the 2026 ACORN International Conference, focusing on the management of one of the most critical perioperative emergencies: Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate (CICO).
CICO is a rare but life-threatening scenario in which all conventional methods of oxygen delivery have failed. While infrequent, the consequences of delayed recognition and intervention can be catastrophic. As perioperative teams continue to work in increasingly complex and time-pressured environments, structured approaches to airway emergencies are essential to ensuring patient safety and effective team performance.
This masterclass centres on the Vortex Approach, a widely recognised framework that simplifies the management of difficult airways through structured decision-making and rapid progression across three key lifelines: mask ventilation, supraglottic airway, and tracheal intubation. When all three lifelines fail, teams must recognise entry into CICO and act decisively to rescue the airway.
Designed as a hands-on, interactive workshop, the session will provide participants with practical frameworks, live demonstrations, and opportunities for team-based rehearsal of high-stakes airway scenarios. The focus is on building shared mental models, improving role clarity, and strengthening multidisciplinary communication when operating at the “bottom of the vortex.”
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to apply the principles of the Vortex Approach to CICO scenarios, recognise the importance of early CICO priming, clearly define the roles of anaesthetists, nurses, and assistants, and rehearse coordinated responses to simulated airway crises. The session also emphasises psychological safety and effective communication under pressure, reinforcing behaviours that support safe and decisive action in real clinical settings.
Periop Concepts is committed to delivering clinically relevant, standards-aligned education that supports patient safety, staff confidence, and workforce capability. This masterclass reflects that commitment and aligns strongly with the 2026 conference theme, Building Bridges: Strengthening Collaborative Perioperative Care, by bringing teams together to rehearse, refine, and strengthen their response to one of the most challenging emergencies in perioperative practice.
The session will be delivered as part of the 2026 ACORN International Conference, hosted by the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses, held from 14–16 May 2026 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. For further information and to register for masterclasses and conference sessions, please visit the ACORN 2026 conference webpage here:
https://acorn.eventsair.com/acorn-2026/registration
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