Airways

Question 1

What are the 3 main components of assessing an airway?

Answer 1

Look, Listen, Feel

Question 2

What are you assessing when looking?

Answer 2

Are they patent?
Are they partially or completely obstructed ?
Visible obstructions?
Is there any visible chest movement? (this does not ensure patency)

Question 3

What are you assessing when listening?

Answer 3

Are they audibly breathing?
Is the child able to talk/cry (demonstrating patency) or are they making any airway noises?

Question 4

What are the 3 airway noises?

Answer 4

Stridor, gurgling, snoring/stertorous

Question 5

What are you assessing when feeling?

Answer 5

Can you feel any breath on your face?
Or can you see any misting on the O2 mask?

Question 6

How long are you assessing look, listen, feel for?

Answer 6

10 seconds per assessment

Question 7

When would you use an airway opening manoeuvre ?

Answer 7

If reduced level of consciousness

Question 8

What are the airway manoeuvres?

Answer 8

Head tilt/chin lift
Jaw thrust

Question 9

What is the intervention for snoring?

Answer 9

Reposition airway, use airway opening manoeuvres- chin lift into neutral (baby) or sniffing position
Use a jaw thrust (if c-spine injury)

Question 10

What is the intervention for gurgling?

Answer 10

Suction with a soft tip catheter at 12-20kPa via wall suction

Question 11

What are the interventions for stridor?

Answer 11

Seek immediate senior assistance- do not attempt to suction as not to upset child. Allow them to position as comfortable

Question 12

What is the consequence of a loss of airway?

Answer 12

Can result in cardiopulmonary arrest

Question 13

When would you use an airway adjunct and what are the types?

Answer 13

When GCS<8 and conscious level P or U
Nasopharyngeal airway
Oropharyngeal airway
LMA (laryngeal mask airway)