Lecture 20- Conditions involving the larynx and airway management Flashcards
conditions affecting the larynx
- Laryngitis
- Laryngeal nodules
- Laryngeal cancer
- Laryngeal oedema
- Epiglottitis
Laryngitis
inflammation of larynx, often involving true vocal cords
- Diagnosed clinically from history
- Hoarse/weak voice and sore throat
- History of URTI
- Infectious (viral typically) and non-infectious aetiology
- Persistent strain on the voice (non-infectious)
- Usually self limiting- resolves within 2-3 weeks
- Laryngeal nodules
- Acute trauma or chronic irritation
- ‘singers nodules’
- Hoarseness of voice >3 weeks
- Require visualisation of cords +/- biopsy
- Laryngeal cancer
certain conditions causing swelling of the larynx can present as
immediate threat to the airway
patient with a compromised upper airway will present with
stridor, raised resp rate distress, hypoxia +/- cyanosis
Stridor-
noise of upper airway pathology
noise of lower airway pathology
wheezing
- Laryngeal oedema
e.g. allergic reaction or swallowed foreign body (choking)
- Epiglottitis- rare
- Potentially significantly airway threatening
- Inflammation in epiglottis- obstructs breathing and swallowing
- Symptoms and signs
- Saliva drooling
- High fever, sniffing position (head slightly extended at the neck)
- DO NOT EXAMINe THE THROAT OR LARYNX–> distress can cause deterioration
- Causes: Haemophilus influenzae
croup
- Common, usually not severe
- Symptoms
- Barking cough
- Symptoms worsen with agitation- stridor
- Cause
- Viral
- Treatment
- Doesn’t require hospital admin usually
- If stridor present at rest may need emergency intervention
hypokia
kills
airways are actively held open by
- Actions and general tone in muscles of upper pharynx/larynx/tongue
- Protective reflexes
- Gag
- Cough
- Swallow
- Complex neural pathways and reflexes involving: co-ording and maintain these to keep the airway patent and safe
- Intact when conscious (providing no lesions/pathology effecting nerves)
- Decreased conscious levels cause decreased tone and suppression of reflexes
AIRWAY AT RISK
Relaxation of tone and suppression reflexes- occludes the larynx
airway management can be
planned or emergency
Airway management
- Planned (elective)
E.g. in prep for surgery involving general anaesthetic
airway manegement: Emergency
Acute/immediate threat to airway- conscious e.g. laryngeal oedema and unconscious patient e.g. cardiac arrest
E.g. Ludwigs angina