Airway Obstruction Flashcards
What is classified as upper airways?
anything above the level of the vocal cords
What is an alternative name for the upper airways?
UADT
What forms the larynx?
-
What is the only complete ring of cartilage on the airways?
the cricoid cartilage - so will determine the maximum dilation of the airways as cannot expand
How do neonates breath?
nasally as have a relatively large tongue
As airway diameter decreases airflow resistance ….
increases
What will a reduction of airway diameter by 1 mm cause?
16 times increase in resistance
What is the equation for airflow resistance?
1/r^4
What are the signs of airway obstruction?
Stridor (high pitch harsh noise due to turbulent airflow from obstruction)
Stertor (low pitched sonorous arising from nasopharyngeal airways - snoring)
What are some of the main causes of airway obstruction?
Inflammatory/infective causes allergy foreign bodies physical compression (invasion of airways) Trauma neurological
Is epiglottisis common? why/why not?
No as we receive the vaccine against haemophilus but can be caused by other viruses too
What is a particularly bad foreign object to get trapped in the airways and why?
peanuts as the oil can trigger a terrible reaction so requires bronchoscopy on the same day of inhalation
_____ can shift if there is obstruction of the left main bronchus
Mediastinum
What is the most common malignant pathology in a child and how is it treated?
Lymphoma and treated with a large dose of steroids
What is a recurrent benign tumour that occurs in the respiratory tract before the age of 12?
juvenile rigor respiratory papillomatosis (after 12 is adult onset)
Why does recurrent respiratory papillomatosis require reconstruction?
as it can destroy the larynx
What is the most common viral cause of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis?
HPV 16 and 18
What is the main cause of neonatal subglottic stenosis?
have had incubatory tubes in for too long
congenital subglottic stenosis is ___
extremely rare
What are the two main causes of adult subglottic stenosis?
Reflux and GPA vasculitis
How do you treat subglottic stenosis?
requires balloon dilation
When should you intubate a burns victim (head and neck) and why?
ASAP as the swelling will come on fast and will cause compression of airways resulting in respiratory arrest - will be very difficult to intubate after swelling
What 3 elements should you assess when it comes to airway obstruction?
Appearance - anxiety?
Work of breathing
Skin circulation
What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in kids?
Respiratory arrest
Respiratory failure leads to ______ which then leads to ____ due to _____
Cardiac failure
Neurological failure
Prolonged lack of oxygen
What is Heliox?
This is a gas mixture of helium and oxygen - as helium is lighter than oxygen it is easier to breath in when in respiratory distress
Why should tracheostomy be avoided at all costs?
Because once it is given it is difficult to take out, has a high morbidity rate and risk of tracheal stenosis
