Airway management and ventilation Flashcards
Patients requiring resuscitation often have an obstructed airway what is this usually caused by ?
Loss of conciousness
Although loss of conciousness is the most common cause of airway obstrcution in resuscitation attempts, can airway obstruction be the primary cause of cardiorespiratory arrest ?
Yes! - recall with complete airway obstruction and respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest will shortly follow.
Why is prompt assessment with control of airway patency and provision of ventilation is essential in cardiac arrest ?
- This will help prevent secondary hypoxic damage to the brain and other vital organs.
- It may be impossible to restore an organised perfusing cardiac rhythm without adequate oxygenation
Although airway management is of key importance in a resuscitation attempt, what is more important ?
Immediate or ASAP defibrillation
What are the 2 different ways airway obstruction can be divided into ?
- Whether it is partial or complete obstruction
- AND/OR if it is upper or lower airway obstruction
Anatomically speaking where can airway obstruction occur anywhere from?
From the level of the mouth or nose down to the level of the carina and bronchi
Define the boundries of the upper and lower respiratory tract
Upper airway includes - Mount/nose to pharynx and larynx
Lower airway - Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and lungs
In the unconcious patient what is the most common site of airway obstruction?
The pharynx - most often at the soft palate and epiglottis rather than the tongue
What is the function of the epiglottis ?
It is a flap of cartilage which is depressed to cover the trachea during swallowing
List possible causes of upper airway obstruction
Vomit or blood
Trauma
Foreign bodies
Oedema/inflammation e.g. croup, epiglottitis
Burns
Anaphylaxis
Describe what croup is
Croup is a viral upper respiratory tract infection which results in mucosal inflammation anywhere between the nose and trachea
It is also known as acute laryngotracheitis or acute laryngotracheobronchitis
What is the most common cause of croup?
**Parainfluenza virus (accounts for the majority)
**
Others include adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, RSV etc.
What age range is croup most common ?
6 months - 3 years
During what part of the year is croup most common?
Autumn
What are the classic features of croup?
Cough - barking, seal-like which is worse at night
Stridor
Fever
Coryzal symptoms
Increased work of breathing e.g. retraction
What should you not do in a patient with suspected croup and why?
The throat should be not examined due to the risk of precipitating airway obstruction.
'’Examining the throat of a child with croup can potentially precipitate laryngospasm, which is an involuntary muscular contraction of the laryngeal cords. This can lead to severe respiratory distress, known as ‘croup crisis’. The larynx in children with croup is already inflamed and narrowed (subglottic stenosis), making it highly sensitive to further irritation or trauma.’’
How can the severity of croup be graded ?
Mild, moderate & severe
What patients with croup should be admitted to hospital?
- Moderate or severe croup
- < 3 months of age
- Known upper airway abnormalities (e.g. Laryngomalacia, Down’s syndrome)
- Uncertainty about diagnosis (important differentials include acute epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, peritonsillar abscess and foreign body inhalation)
What investigations are carried out for suspected croup?
Vast majority diagnosed clinically.
CXR may help - a PA view will show subglottic narrowing, commonly called the ‘steeple sign’
What is the management of croup?
- A single dose of dexametasone (0.15mg/kg). If not available can use Prednisolone.
- If emergency then will need high flow O2 + NEB adrenaline.
Define what epiglottitis is
- Acute epiglottitis is rare but serious infection where bacteria invade the epiglottis and cause inflammation.
- Inflammation starts on the lingual surface of the epiglottis, before rapidly spreading to other laryngeal structures including the aryepiglottic folds, the arytenoids and supraglottic larynx. The vocal cords have a tightly bound epithelium which restricts progression of the swelling, increasing pressure in a small area and consequently causing airway obstruction
What are the most common causes of epiglottitis ?
- ** Haemophilus influenzae type B** - most common pre HiB vaccine.
- Now most common streptococcus species e.g. strep pnuemoniae
What are the features of epiglottitis
Remember the 4 D’s
* Dyspnoea
* Dysphagia
* Drooling
* Dysphonia ‘muffled/hot potato
Symptom duration is usually** less than 12 hours** and there is typically no cough. Children will appear toxic with a high-grade fever, sore throat, dehydration and may already have signs of partial airway obstruction. Stridor is a late sign. Some children may adopt a Tripod Position
How is epiglottitis diagnosed ?
Diagnosis is made by direct visualisation (only by senior/airway trained staff, see below).
However, x-rays may be done, particularly if there is concern about a foreign body:
- a lateral view in acute epiglottis will show swelling of the epiglottis - the ‘thumb sign’
- in contrast, a posterior-anterior view in croup will show subglottic narrowing, commonly called the ‘steeple sign’
What is the management of epiglottitis ?
- Senior involvement - ENT/anaesthetics (those able to intubate). Intubation may ne neccessary
- Oxygen
- IV abx - IV cefotaxime or ceftriaxone
- IV dex 6-8mg.
- Consider NEB adrenaline
Again do not examine the airway risk of compelte obstruction, the same as in croup
Obstrcution of the airway below the level of the larynx is uncommon but can occur. What are possible causes of lower airway obstruction?
- Excessive bronchial secretions
- Mucosal oedema
- Bronchospasm
- Pulmonary oedema
- Aspiration of gastric contents
- Extrinsic compression - trauma, tumours, haematoma.
What is the approach which should be taken to help recognise airway obstruction in unwell patients?
**LOOK, LISTEN & FEEL:
*** Look for chest and abdominal movements
* Listen and feel for airflow at the mouth and nose
What sounds might you hear suggesting partial airway obstruction and what does each different sound suggest for the level of airway obstruction?
- Inspiratory stridor - suggests obstruction at laryngeal level or above
- Expiratory wheeze - suggests osbtruction of lower airways
- Gurgling - suggests presence of liquid or semisolid foreign material in the upper airways
- Snoring - when the pharynx is partially occluded by the tongue or soft palate.
What clinical sign does complete airway obstruction cause in a patient whom is still making respiratory efforts?
See-saw breathing - this is paradoxical chest and abdominal movements
Describe the normal appearance of breathing
Chest and abdomen move in a syncronous way i.e. both move up or down.
During inspiration downward movement of the diaphragm pushes the abdomen up and outwards whilst it also lifts the chest wall/ribs
What are the main inspiratory muscles (used in paecful breathing)?
Diaphragm & intercostal muscles
What are the main accessory muscles of inspiration (used in respiratory distress)?
Sternocleidomastoid, scalene muscles, serratus anterior, pectoralis major & minor, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, iliocostalis lumborum, quadratus lumborum
Why is it important to exammine someones neck, abdomen and chest who is in respiratory distress ?
To look for abnormal breathing patterns and use of accessory muscles, tracheal tugging and intercostal/subcostal recession
What should you hear for each of the following on ascultation:
* Normal breathing
* Partial airway obstruction
* Complete airway obstruction
- Normal breathing - quiet vesicular breaths sounds
- Partial airway obstruction - noisy breath sounds
- Complete airway obstruction - silent chest
What will complete airway obstruction lead to within minutes if not already occured?
Brain and other organ hypoxic injury AND cardiac arrest
If someone has airway obstruction what should you give them re. O2 flow ?
High flow 15L 100% oxygen.
Once relieved the obstruction you can then worry about altering target sats to scale 1 or 2.
A patient with a tracheostomy tube or permanent tracehal stoma (usually after laryngectomy), may develop airway obstruction. If they do what should you do ?
Remove any obvious foreign material from the stoma/tube.
Remove the treacheostomy liner (inner tube).
If still unable to ventilate the lungs, try to pass a suction catheter to perform tracheal suctioning + attempt to ventilate.
If suction catheter will not pass then attempt to remove the tracheostomy tube and exchange it.
https://tracheostomy.org.uk/healthcare-staff/emergency-care/emergency-algorithm-tracheostomy
Chocking may either cause mild or severe airway obstruction what is this based on ?
If they have an effective cough or not
Other signs are shown in the table
What is the management of a choking patient ?
How should back blows be performed ?
Stand to the side and slightly behind the patient
Support patients chest wall with one hand and lean the patient forwards
Give 5 sharp back blows between the scalpulae with the heel of your hand.
After each back blow check to see if it has relieved the airway obstruction
If 5 back blows fail what should be done and describe how this is performed
5 abdominal thrusts:
* Stand behind the patient, putting both arms round the upper part of their abdomen
* Place a clenched fist just under the xiphisternum
* Grasp this hand with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards
* Repeat 5 times.
If obstruction causing choking is still not relieved after 5 back blows and then 5 abdo thrusts what should you do ?
Alternate 5 back blows with 5 abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is relieved