Airway obstruction Flashcards
1
Q
why are children more likely to get an airway obstruction?
A
large head small nares - nasal cavity neonates are obligate nasal breathers - if nose is blocked can't breathe relatively large tongue small and soft larynx higher position (C1) weak neck muscles - floppy head narrow subglottis (3.5mm at the cricoid)
2
Q
what causes an airway obstruction?
A
inflammatory/infective causes/ allergy foreign bodies physical compression/ invasion of airway trauma/iatrogenic trauma neurological causes neoplastic causes burn congenital airway pathology
3
Q
how does it present?
A
shallow, quick breathing
stridor - high pitched harsh noise due to turbulent airflow resulting from airway obstructions
stertor - low pitched sonorous sound arising from the nasopharyngeal airway
4
Q
how is it managed?
A
A, B, C Resuscitation oxygen heliox steroid adrenaline flexible fibre-optic endoscopy treat the underlying pathology secure airway with ET tube/ tracheostomy - last call
5
Q
what are the considerations in an ET/tracheostomy tube?
A
uncuffed or cuffed - a high-volume, low pressure cuff used to prevent aspiration and allow positive-pressure ventilation
fenestrated or unfenestrated - fenestrated has a small hole on the greater curvature of the tube, allows air to escape upwards to the vocal cords and the patient to speak
