Airway Assess & Equipment Flashcards
Mallampati I
Class 1
Pillars, uvula, soft palate, & hard palate
Mallampati II
Class 2
Uvula, soft palate, & hard palate
Mallampati III
Class 3
Soft & hard palate ± partial uvula
Mallampati IV
Class 4
Only hard palate
Inter-Incisor Gap
Normal 4-6 cm
What factors contribute to limited mouth opening?
Buckteeth
Arthritis
Scar tissue
Temporomandibular joint disease
Prior surgery
Thyromental Distance
Helps to estimate the submandibular space
Normal > 6 cm
Submandibular space borders = mentum (superior), hyoid bone (inferior), & neck (lateral)
Mandibular Protrusion Test
Upper lip bite test
Temporomandibular joint function
Mandibular Protrusion Test
Class 1
Patient can move lower incisor past upper incisor & bite the lip vermilion
Mandibular Protrusion Test
Class 2
Patient able to move lower incisor inline w/ upper incisor
Mandibular Protrusion Test
Class 3
Patient cannot move lower incisor past the upper incisor (indicates potential difficult intubation)
Atlanto-Occipital Joint Mobility
Ability to place patient in the sniffing position
What conditions impair atlanto-occipital mobility?
Degenerative joint disease, arthritis, RA
Ankylosing spondylitis
Trauma or surgical fixation
Down syndrome
Klippel-Feil
Diabetes mellitus
Cormack & Lehane
Grade 1
Complete or near complete view of the glottic opening
Cormack & Lehane
Grade 2
Posterior region of the glottic opening
Unable to see the anterior commissure
Cormack & Lehane
Grade 3
Epiglottis only
Unable to see any part of the glottic opening
Cormack & Lehane
Grade 4
Soft palate only
Unable to see any part of the larynx
When to consider a bougie?
Grade 2B or 3
Difficult Mask-Ventilation Indicators
BONES
- Beard (mask seal)
- Overweight/obese BMI > 26 kg/m^2
- No teeth (edentulous)
- Elderly > 55 yo
- Sleep apnea OSA
Difficult Laryngoscopy & ETT Intubation Indicators
LEMON
Small mouth opening
Long incisors
Prominent overbite
High, arched palate
Mallampati class 3 or 4
Retrognathia
Inability to sublux jaw
Short, thick neck (obesity)
Reduced cervical mobility
Short thyromental distance
Difficult Video Laryngoscopy Indicators
Neck pathology - radiation, tumor, or previous surgery
Short thyromental distance
Limited cervical ROM or mouth opening
Class 3 upper lip bite test
Difficult Supraglottic Airway Placement Indicators
Limited mouth opening
Upper airway obstruction
Altered pharyngeal anatomy
C-spine
Poor lung compliance
↑airway resistance
Lower airway obstruction
Difficult Invasive Airway Placement
Abnormal neck anatomy - tumor, hematoma, abscess, radiation history
Surgery or previous scar
Obesity
Short neck
Laryngeal trauma
Limited access to the cricothyroid membrane (Halo or neck flexion deformity)
NPO Guidelines
Clear liquids 2 hours
Breastmilk 4 hours
Non-human milk, infant formula, or solid food 6 hours
Fried or fatty foods 8 hours
Mendelson Syndrome
Gastric content aspiration → pneumonia
Risk factors include gastric volume > 25 mL or 0.4 mL/kg + pH < 2.5
RSI Cricoid Pressure
Apply pressure to the cricoid ring C5 vertebrate
How much pressure to apply during RSI?
Before LOC 20 Newtons or ≈ 2 kg
After induction 40 Newtons or ≈ 4 kg
What are cricoid pressure complications?
Airway obstruction
Difficult DL and/or intubation
Impaired glottic visualization
↓LES pressure
Esophageal rupture (w/ active vomiting)
Angioedema
↑vascular permeability → face, tongue, & airway swelling
1° concern = upper airway obstruction
Angioedema Cause
Anaphylaxis
ACEi prevent bradykinin breakdown
Hereditary C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency
Angioedema Treatments
- Anaphylaxis mast-cell mediated → Epi, antihistamines, & steroids
- Discontinue ACEi → bradykinin receptor antagonist, plasma kallikrein inhibitor, FFP, & C1 esterase concentrate
- C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency → C1 inhibitor concentrate, FFP, & prophylaxis prior to upper airway procedures or tracheal intubation
Ludwig’s Angina
Bacterial infection characterized by rapidly progressing cellulitis in the floor of the mouth
Inflammation & edema compress the submandibular, submaxillary, & sublingual spaces
What’s the 1° concern w/ Ludwig’s angina?
1° concern = posterior tongue displacement resulting in complete, supraglottic airway obstruction
How to secure the airway in a patient w/ Ludwig’s angina?
Best way to secure the airway = AWAKE nasal intubation or tracheostomy
Retrograde intubation contraindicated in patients w/ an infection above the trachea***
What congenital conditions are associated w/ difficult airway management?
Beckwith syndrome
Trisomy 21
Pierre Robin
Goldenhar
Treacher Collins
Cri du chat
Klippel-Feil
What nerve injury can result from an aggressive jaw thrust or excessive traction at the mandibular angle?
Facial nerve stretch
What nerve injury can result from face straps being too tight?
Facial nerve 7
- Buccal branch
What nerve injury can result from an ETT connector resting on the patient’s face?
Supraorbital nerve compression
How does facial nerve stretch present?
Affected side sagging, drooling, & mastication affected
How does facial nerve compression to the buccal branch present?
Patient has difficulty opening & closing lips
Orbicularis oris muscle function impaired
How do OPA & NPAs function?
Open the airway by displacing the tongue & epiglottis from the posterior wall
How to measure OPAs:
Measure from the mouth corner to the earlobe or mandibular angle
The flange should protrude outside the lips & the pharyngeal end should rest at the tongue base
OPA Types
- Guedel
- Berman
- Williams
- Ovassapian
How to measure NPAs:
Measure from the are to the earlobe or mandible angle
What are contraindications to NPAs?
Cribiform plate injury
- LeFort 2 or 3 fracture
- Basilar skull fracture
- CSF rhinorrhea
- Raccoon eyes
- Periorbital edema
Coagulopathy
Previous trans-sphenoid hypophysectomy
Previous Caldwell-Luc procedure
Nasal skull fracture
BURP Maneuver
Backward
Upward
Rightward
Pressure
High-Volume, Low-Pressure Cuff
High cuff compliance
Manometer to measure internal pressure
Easy to pass things around the cuff (esophageal stethoscope, OT tube, temp probe)
Less protection against aspiration
Low-Volume, High-Pressure Cuff
Low cuff compliance
Better protection against aspiration
Lower sore throat incidence
Easier visualization during intubation
Prolonged intubation → tracheal ischemia
Pediatric ETT Equations
Cuffed ETT = [Age (years) / 4] + 3.5
Uncuffed ETT = [Age (years) / 4] + 4