RSI, reintubation, extubation complications and difficult airway Flashcards
describe aspiration prevention
1) pharmacological aspiration prophylaxis
- goal: reduce amount ( 2.5 pH) of gastric contents
- liquid acid neutralizer (Bicitra)
- prokinetic agent (Reglan)
- acid secretion prevention with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs: Prilosec) and/or H2 antagonists (Pepcid/zantac)
2) preoxygenate/denitrogenate as usual
3) rapid sequence induction (RSI)
- rapid injection of propofol and succs
describe rapid sequence induction (RSI)
objective: prevent pulmonary aspiration
1) decreases time b/w when protective airway reflexes are eliminated and airway protection is secured (seconds matter!) *speeds up intubation
2) attempts to protect airway when protective reflexes are eliminated by occluding gastric pathway to airway (cricoid pressure: occludes gastric pathway to block anything from coming up)
what are RSI indications?
- patients at an increased risk for aspiration of gastric contents
- trauma (includes falls with fractures: once trauma occurs, digestion stops, so even if > 6 hrs consider “full stomach”)
- esophageal obstruction
- NPO guidelines not followed
- acute abdomen and bowel obstruction
- active GI bleeding or upper airway bleeding (nausea)
- pregnancy (consider “full stomach”)
- abdominal mass or ascites increasing risk of gastric content expulsion
- severe GERD (N/V)
describe RSI prep
- check equipment immediately prior to induction
- be sure ETT has stylet
- ensure competent airway personnel present for cricoid pressure
- position for optimal laryngoscopy
describe RSI procedure
- adequate preoxygenation/denitrogenation
- slam induction agent then immediately give paralytic
- perform cricoid pressure maneuver
- if bag mask ventilating while waiting for paralytic effect then do not exceed pressure > 20 cmH2O (introduces air into gastric cavity and gastric insufflation increases risk of aspiration)
- laryngoscopy, intubation, inflate cuff
- *verify ETT position before releasing cricoid pressure
describe cricoid pressure procedure
using Sellick’s maneuver
- thumb and index finger pressing downward on the cricoid ring will compress the esophagus against the cervical vertebrae
- cricoid pressure effectiveness often debated
- RSI with cricoid pressure prevents gastric contents form exiting up through esophagus and insufflation d/t PPV forcing air into stomach
- esophagus to the right of trachea in 75% of people
what are some complications of cricoid pressure?
- may produce poor view during intubation (mask ventilation NOT affected)
- increased risk for esophageal rupture if vomiting
what are contraindications to cricoid pressure?
- airway trauma
- lack of properly trained assistant
- fractured larynx or cricoid
- active vomiting
- esophageal foreign body near cricoid (C6)
- esophageal disease
- cervical fracture near the cricoid (C6)
- no suspected spinal injury
- do RSI w/o cricoid pressure
what are alternatives to RSI?
- regional anesthesia (*always be prepared for a tracheal intubation if regional fails or regional results in airway compromise such as a high spinal)
- awake intubation (maintains protective airway reflexes)
- tracheostomy under local
- delay in surgical procedure (if surgery is non-urgent/emergent)
what are some complications of intubation during laryngoscopy and intubating?
- malpositioning: esophageal intubation, endobronchial intubation, laryngeal cuff supraglottic
- airway trauma: tooth damage, lip/tongue/mucosal laceration, sore throat, dislocated mandible, retropharyngeal dissection
- physiologic reflexes(sympathetic outflow): HTN, tachycardia, intracranial HTN, intraocular HTN, laryngospasm
- tube malfunction: cuff perforation
what are some complications of intubation while the tube is in place?
- malpositioning: unintentional extubation, endobronchial intubation, laryngeal cuff position
- airway trauma: mucosal inflammation and ulceration, excoriation of nose
- tube malfunction: ignition, obstruction
what are some complications of intubation following extubation?
- airway trauma: edema and stenosis (glottis, subglottic, or tracheal), hoarseness (vocal cord granuloma or paralysis), laryngeal malfunction and aspiration
- physiologic reflexes
- laryngospsasm
describe bronchospasms
- occurs during intubation or extubation
- reactive airway disease (RAD) increases risks: asthmatics, bronchitis, URI
- characterize by inability to ventilate
how are bronchospasms treated?
- 100% O2
- beta 2 agonist like albuterol
- lidocaine IV or ETT if intubated
- deepen volatile anesthetic if intubated or masked
- IV atropine, epinephrine, fentanyl
describe steps for emergence
- establish spontaneous breathing first
- increase CO2 level to stimulate breathing (do by decreasing TV and RR)
- stimulate to awaken: verbal and physical (moving arms and calling name); noxious stimulation (ETT movement; surgical field and incision) *blocks are reducing this stimulus
- removal of agents that promote sleep: versed (remains for hours), fentanyl (may or may not remain), volatile agent (remove by ventilation), paralytic (reverse)
describe the steps extubation
- can be done deep or awake depending on:
- surgery (hernia, ENT, sling, carotid endarterectomy want deep since coughing will increase pressure in areas of surgery)
- pt. history (aspiration risk, difficult intubation, OSA want light since pt. needs protective reflexes and want fully awake and breathing)
- desire smooth , atraumatic extubation
- avoidance of coughing: lidocaine, narcotic, pull deeper
what are criteria for extubation?
- adequate NMBA reversal
- 4/4 TOF with sustained 5 second tetanus w/o fade
- TV and RR adequate to eliminate CO2
- strong hand grip, cough, and sustained head lift > 5 sec.
- airway reflexes: swallowing and tongue movement
- maintain oxygenation/ventilation w/o stimulation