Chapter 180 Airway Management Flashcards
A 10 yr old lab patient presents in respiratory distress and initially has an elevated temperature. You give butorphanol and the patient’s respiratory rate and effort improve significantly. You recheck the patient’s temperature afterwards and the temperature is still significantly elevated. What airway condition do you need to consider?
Pneumonia
What is the principal cause of unexpected death during the perianesthesia period?
Airway occlusion/obstruction
Upper airway obstruction is frequently ______ in dogs and ______ in cats.
Dynamic in dogs
Fixed in cats
What are common causes of upper airway obstruction in dogs?
Less common?
Brachycephalic syndrome
Tracheal collapse
Laryngeal paralysis
Less common: neoplasia, retropharyngeal abscess
What common condition can upper airway obstruction mimic in cats that presents with lower inspiratory rates and wheezes?
Asthma - important to remember that feline asthma rarely occurs in older cats and if presenting with these signs then need to fully evaluate upper airway.
What is the benefit of nasotracheal tube placement?
Bypass upper airway
Attempt to avoid intubation or tracheostomy (higher M/M)
What are key points to remember when performing a tracheostomy?
Stay on midline! (avoid recurrent laryngeal nerve)
Make a long incision
Place label sutures to permit way replacement of tube
No need to suture subcutaneous tissues/muscle
True or false: when placing a tracheostomy tube, one should always inflate the cuff. Why?
False. Unless the patient is undergoing mechanical ventilation or lacks a gag reflex, the cuff should not be inflated in case the lumen of the tube becomes occluded.
Why are tracheostomy tubes prone to getting clogged?
The upper airway is responsible for air humidification of inspired air. Without using the upper airway (when tracheostomy tube in place), then secretions become thicker/more viscous and can easily clog tube
