Airway Flashcards
What is the barrier between the upper and lower airway?
Glottis
Normal mouth opening distance
3 - 4 cm (2-3 FB)
Precautions for nasal airways
Epistaxis and anticoagulants
Nasal and basilar skull fractures
Adenoid hypertrophy
Big caution with oral airways
LARYNGOSPASM
bleeding
soft tissue damage
What should we remember to do before placing a nasal airway?
Lube that sucker up
When is a mask case ok?
- Pt doesn’t have difficult airway
- Airway obstruction is easily relieved with oral/nasal airway or chin lift
- Short case duration
- Surgeon doesn’t need access to head/neck (exception to the rule: bilateral myringotomy tubes)
- Head will be accessible for the entire case
- No airway bleeding/secretions
- No table position changes
When in the induction sequence can an LMA be placed?
After loss of lash reflex and confirmation of mask ventilation
Who should not have an LMA placed?
Anyone considered a full stomach
(non-fasting, parturients 34+ weeks, uncontrolled GERD, trauma, acute abdomens, diabetics d/t autonomic neuropathy, low pulmonary complience)
LMA advantages
- ↑ speed & ease of placement by inexperienced personnel
- Improved hemodynamic stability at induction & during emergence
- ↓ anesthetic requirements for airway tolerance
- Lower frequency of coughing during emergence
- Lower incidence of sore throats in adults (10% vs 30%)
- Avoids “foreign body” in the trachea
- Patient can be fully emerged prior to removal of LMA → good for asthmatic patients
LMA disadvantages
- Lower seal pressure
- Higher frequency of gastric insufflation → risk for aspiration
- Esophageal reflux more likely
- Inability to use mechanical ventilation at higher pressures
LMA - when do you deflate the cuff
Keep the cuff inflated until the patient is awake → DO NOT DEFLATE at END OF CASE
Keeps secretions from getting on vocal cords
ETT indications
- Airway compromise
- Airway inaccessible
- Long surgical time
- Surgery of head, neck, chest, or abdomen
- Need for controlled ventilation & positive end-expiratory pressure
- Inability to maintain airway with mask/LMA
- Aspiration risk
- Airway disease
- Pregnancy
How far to insert the ETT
males - 23 cm
females 21 cm
RSI Sequence of Events
- Adjuncts → aspiration prophylaxis
- Bicitra, reglan, protonix
- Monitors, suction on & placed at head of bed
- Supine “sniffing” position
- Sedation (Versed) if applicable
- Pre-Oxygenate 5 minutes or Minimum 4-5 VC Breaths!
- Sellick’s Maneuver = Cricoid pressure
- Induction agent followed by succinylcholine
- Wait 60 seconds → watch the clock NOT the block!
- Attempt Laryngoscopy → visualize vocal cords → place ETT inflate cuff
- Confirm tracheal tube placement:
- Chest rise
- BBSE
- Confirm presence of EtCO2
- Give assistant permission to release cricoid pressure
- Ventilate
- Start inhaled anesthetic or anesthetic infusion
- Ventilator on
- Secure ETT/tape eyes
Potential Hazards in Airway Management
- Dental damage
- Soft tissue/mechanical injury
- Laryngospasm
- Bronchospasm
- Vomiting/Aspiration
- Hypoxemia/Hypercarbia
- SNS stimulation
- Esophageal/Endobronchial intubation
- Endobronchial intubation evident by → high airway pressures, unilateral chest rise & breath sounds, ↓ O2 saturation