Airway

Question 1

Definition of airway obstruction

Answer 1

• Blockage in the airway

- Partial or complete prevention of air from getting into lungs

Question 2

Types of airway obstruction

Answer 2

• Upper, lower
• Partial, complete
• Acute, chronic

Question 3

Causes of airway obstruction

Answer 3

• Foreign body
• Infection (epiglotis)
• Face and neck trauma
• Tumor
• Toxin
• Drug
• Anaphylaxis
• Angioedema
• Laryngospasm

Question 4

Signs and symptoms of life threatening airway

Answer 4

• Dyspnoea
• No air movement
• Cyanosis
• Foreign body
• Trauma
• Agitation
• Unconsciousness

Question 5

Airway assessment - observation

Answer 5

• Appearance (skin)
• Colour
• Saturations
• Chest rise and fall
• Accessory muscles (nasal flaring, subcostal, tracheal)
• Work of breathing
• Foreign object, tongue
• Secretions

Question 6

Airway assessment - auscultation

Answer 6

• Bilateral breath sounds
• Adventitious lungs
• Vocalisation

Question 7

Airway assessment - palpitation

Answer 7

• Skin
• Chest expansion symmetry
• Cap refill

Question 8

How to establish an airway

Answer 8

• Head tilt/chin lift
• Jaw thrust
• Suction
• Remove foreign objects
• Airway adjuncts

Question 9

Indications for airway management

Answer 9

• Apnoea
• Obstruction
• GCS <8
• High risk of aspiration
• Mid-face trauma
• Inability to maintain airway
• Airway injuries

Question 10

Cause of inhalation injury

Answer 10

• Heat
• Chemical compounds
• Soot particles

Question 11

Signs of inhalation injury

Answer 11

• Mechanism
• Singed nose hair
• Carbonaceous sputum
• Hoarse voice
• Facial burn/oedema

Question 12

Classification of inhalation injury

Answer 12

• Upper airway: supra glottic
• Lower airway: sub glottic
• Systemic intoxication: CO2, HCN poisoning

Question 13

Indication for oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal airway

Answer 13

• Overcome soft palate obstruction

- Tongue displacement in unconscious patient

Question 14

Indication + nursing care of Laryngeal Mask Airway

Answer 14

Indication:
- Short term device (surgery, resus)
Care:
- Secure device (linen tapes)
- Assess and reassess signs of effectiveness

Question 15

Indication + care of endotracheal intubation

Answer 15

Indication:
- Upper airway obstruction
- Decreased LOC
- Mechanical ventilation
- Suctioning
Care:
- Device security (marking, cuff pressure, ETCO2, vent)
- Suctioning
- Humidification 
- Oral hygiene
- Patient positioning
- Pain relief

Question 16

Indication + care of tracheostomy

Answer 16

Indication:
- Prolonged ventilation
- Upper airway obstruction
- Head injury/facial trauma
- Neurological disease
- Respiratory distress syndrome
- Sepsis
Care:
- Device security (linen tapes)
- Humidification
- Suctioning
- Oral hygiene
- Stoma care
- NBM
- Communication