Airway management Flashcards
Sizing a nasopharyngeal airway
Tip of the nose to the tragus of the ear
Thickness –> 5th digit on the hand
Complications of NP airway
Epistaxis (C/I in bleeding diathesis)
Submucosal placement (false tract)
C/I in BOS fractures
How is inward displacement of the NP airway attained
Safety pin
Optimal position for laryngoscopy
Extension of upper cervical spine
- Reverse the recession of the mandible
- Increase submandibular space/space in hypopharynx
- Raises the larynx
Flexion of lower cervical spine
REDUCED DISTANCE FROM MOUTH TO LARYNGEAL INLET
LINE OF SITE TO THE LARYNX OPTIMIsED
What are the mnemonics used to assess for a difficult airway
Difficult BVM - BOOTS
Difficult laryngoscopy and intubation - MMAP
What factors are predictive of difficult BVM
BOOTS
Beard/Body piercings Obese/Obstetrics Older Toothless/Trauma Snore/Stridor/Syndromes
What are the predictive factors for difficult laryngoscopy and intubation
MMAP
Measure 3:3:1
- 3 fingers - hyomental distance
- 3 fingers incisor gap
- 1 finger - underbite test
Mallampati 1 - Complete visualisation soft palate 2 - Complete visualisation uvula 3 - Visible uvula base 4 - Soft palate not visible
Atlanto-occipital extension limitation
Pathology - upper airway (and neck: surgical airway)
What are the predictive factors for difficult extraglottic device (e.g. LMA)
MOODS
Mouth Opening (Can you get the device in?) Obstructed airway (Seating over larynx?) Disrupted airway (Seating over larynx?) Stiff lungs (COPD/asthma) (Chance of leak?)
What are the predictive factors for difficult surgical cricothyroidotomy
DART
Distortion (Can the cricothyroid membrane be identified)
Access (Can the trachea be accessed through the CT membrane)
Radiation
Tumor
Describe the Cormack Lehane grading system for laryngoscopy
Grade 1 Most of the glottis visible
Grade 2 < 50% glottis visible
Grade 2a Part of the vocal cords visible
Grade 2b Only posterior elements visible (Arytenoids/posterior commissure)
Grade 3 Glottis not visible. Epiglottis visible
Grade 3a Epiglottis can be lifted
Grade 3b Epiglottis cannot be lifted
Grade 4 Neither glottis nor epiglottis visible
When is use of cLMA indicated?
- Elective anaesthesia in patients at low risk of regurgitation
- Difficult airway management
- as a conduit for intubation
- rescuing an obstructed airway - Airway management during CPR
What is a preferred choice of LMA if choosing to use IPPV
The Proseal LMA with oesophageal venting tube
What are the two major limitations of the LMA
- Risk of aspiration if regurgitation occurs in elective anaesthesia
- Inadequate ventilation due to airway leak
What is the incidence of aspiration when using a cLMA during elective anaesthesia and how does this compare to the endotracheal tube. What other factors does the risk of aspiration depend on?
1 in 4000 - 11 000
Similar to ETT
Depends on: CASE SELECTION and QUALITY OF INTRA-OPERATIVE CARE
Does the cLMA provide protection against aspiration? How does this compare to the degree of protection from aspiration offered by the Proseal LMA
Cadaveric studies indicate some protection is conferred but considerably lower than that afforded by the Proseal LMA
What is the airway seal pressure provided by the cLMA
16 - 20 cmH2O (Similar to tone of upper oesophageal sphincter)
With pressures above 20 cmH20
- Gas leak out through mouth
- Gas leak into oesophagus/stomach –> distension –> splint diaphragm –> decr. lung compliance –> Increasing required pressures –> vicious cycle
How are the risks of gastric insufflation, pulmonary aspiration and oropharyngeal injury risk mitigated
- Careful case selection
- Pressure controlled ventilation
- Good insertion technique
- Cuff pressure management
Steps for LMA insertion?
- Fully deflate
- Water-soluble lubricant posterior surface
- Anaesthesia before insertion (no response to jaw thrust)
- Patient ‘Sniffing the morning air’
- Hold cLMA like a pen with index finger at joining of stem and bowl
- Non-dominant hand on occiput
- Press the bowl of the LMA against the hard palate
- Advance cLMA along hard palate into the supraglottic region
- Final push: dominant hand remains in place –> non-dominant hand removed from occiput and applies force to the airway tube whilst the dominant hand directs this final push
- Inflate cuff - Monitor intracuff pressures ≤60cmH2O (the recommended volumes on the packaging are maximum -> start with half)
What is the maximum cuff pressure for an LMA vs endotracheal tube cuff?
LMA < 60 cmH2O
ETT < 30 cmH2O
How long after the initiation of N2O should the cuff pressure be checked again
30 mins - N2O diffuses to equilibrium
How is correct placement of cLMA confirmed
- Posterior black line of airway tube remains in midline
- Look - chest rise
- Listen - for leaks
- Feel - the anaesthetic reservoir bag (inspiration = low resistance and expiration –> rapid refilling)