11 - Airway Management Flashcards
Breathing devices and airway adjuncts can assist with:
1) Helping maintain an open airway
2) Ventilating a patient
3) Supplying emergency oxygen
The process of removing foreign matter from the upper airway by means of a mechanical or manual device.
Suctioning
CRITICAL FACT
Suctioning is the process of removing foreign matter, such as mucous, fluids or blood, from a patent’s upper airways. Suctioning can be done through mechanical or manual devices.
Two types of suctioning devices:
1) mechanical: electrically powered and produce a vacuums. Found in ambulances.
2) manual: operated by hand
Suction the mouth of an adult for no more than
15 seconds at a time
CRITICAL FACTS
The tongue is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious person. Keeping the tongue from blocking the air passage is a high priority. Mechanical airway adjuncts known as OPAs and NPAs can help you accomplish this task.
Breathing devices allow the EMR to provide:
1) positive pressure ventilations to patients in need of CPT, emergency oxygen and/or artificial ventilations.
2) these devices include CPR breathing barriers ( resuscitation masks, bag-valve-mask resuscitators BVM and emergency oxygen equipment)
CRITICAL FACT
When preparing to insert an OPA, first be sure the patient is unconscious. OPAs are used only on unconscious, unresponsive patients with no gag reflex.
Two types of airway obstruction:
1) Anatomical ( swollen tongue
2) Mechanical (food, toys)
When caring for a CONSCIOUS choking adult:
perform a combination of back blows followed by abdominal thrusts.
If a conscious patient becomes unconscious,
1) lower person to ground
2) open mouth and look for object
3) if seen, remove with finger sweep
4) in no object seen, reopen the airway and try to give a ventilation
5) if chest does not clearly rise, re-tilt the head & give another ventilation
6) if the chest still does not clearly rise, begin chest compressions
