Looking Ahead: The Future of ‘Airway’

It is with humility and enthusiasm that I take on the position of Editor-in-Chief of this prestigious journal. A change in leadership marks not only a change of responsibility but also a time to reaffirm our shared commitment to excellence, integrity and service to the academic community. I begin by acknowledging the enormous contributions of my predecessors, Dr J. V. Divatia, Editor-in-Chief for 2022–2025 and Dr Venkateswaran Ramkumar, Editor-in-Chief for 2018–2022, whose vision, dedication and tireless efforts have put the journal to its current pedestal of eminence. The firm foundation they have laid will serve as a beacon of guidance while we strive to elevate the journal to newer heights. The scientific publishing landscape is changing rapidly, with more focus on transparency, quality and worldwide availability. As Editor-in-Chief, my goal is to uphold the highest possible peer review standards, encourage diversity of opinion and publish innovative research in airway management and safety to bring substantial impact. I also envision developing stronger collaborations, including young investigators, and using digital technologies to make our content more accessible and relevant. This journal belongs not only to its editorial board but also to its readers, reviewers and authors. I invite all of you to keep participating actively by sending us manuscripts of high quality, giving constructive peer reviews and sharing ideas that will steer the evolution of airway management and airway-related research. Over the last year, airway research has had various exciting developments, including in paediatrics, artificial intelligence (AI)/robotics and virtual examination. A recent narrative review in Airway (2024) of Recent Advances in Paediatric Airway Management emphasises advances in equipment technology (videolaryngoscopes and flexible video-endoscopes), adjuncts and strategies (microcuff tubes, supraglottic airways, apnoeic oxygenation and ultrasound guidance) and the initial promise of simulation, three-dimensional (3D) printing and AI in assessment and training.[1] Concurrently, meta-analyses and systematic reviews and other articles have investigated the potential for AI to predict challenging airways.[2,3] In India and through the All India Difficult Airway Association (AIDAA), there is a strong understanding of the requirement for locally applicable evidence, guideline implementation and training that still exists. In the future, Airway Journal is well-positioned to take a lead in a number of these areas. There is a strong need for future clinical trials in Indian environments comparing newer devices, ultrasound guidance and AI-assisted evaluations versus usual practice, particularly in neonates, infants and in low-resource settings. Research regarding retention of skills over time, both in simulation and real-world practice, would delineate how frequently airway management training needs to be updated. Studies of implementation science, to identify facilitators and barriers for implementing AIDAA guidelines, are also crucial: awareness is not enough without routine implementation. Finally, placing multidisciplinary technologies such as robotics, 3D imaging, virtual reality and AI into accessible, stable and easy-to-use systems may revolutionise airway management, provided we make sure designs are locally validated. I look forward to working with my team of Associate Editors: Dr Jeson Rajan Doctor (Mumbai), Dr Nishant Sahay (Patna), Dr Swapnil Yeshwant Parab (Mumbai), Dr Indubala Maurya (Lucknow), Dr Tanmay Tiwari (Lucknow), Dr Jyoti Sharma (Bathinda), Dr Anil Kumar M. R. (Mysuru) and Dr Neha Singh (Bhubaneswar); Assistant Editors: Dr R. V. Ranjan (Puducherry), Dr Rashmi N. R. (Bengaluru) and Dr Virinchi Sanapala (Mumbai); and our valued National and International Editorial Board members. Their technical knowledge, leadership and dedication is essential in delivering the very best level of scholarship and peer review. I believe, collectively, we can encourage innovation, advance the journal’s global reach and further solidify ‘Airway’ – a reliable platform for knowledge development in airway management. Looking to the future, we hope to expand the journal’s international reputation without compromising its fundamental role as a serious academic forum dedicated to airway management. Some of the projects in the pipeline include special themed issues, commissioned reviews from leading experts and early-career researcher features. These measures will enable the journal to continue to serve as both a repository of knowledge and a source of advancements. Finally, the success of any journal rests on the judgement and commitment of its community. I extend a warm welcome to colleagues around the globe to consider this platform not only as a venue for publication but also as a collective effort, one in which ideas are fostered, shared and innovations are championed. Together, I am confident that this new undertaking will be a source of learning, relevance and inspiration for airway specialists around the world.