Upper Airway Obstruction Paeds Flashcards
Management steps in acute management of unstable patient with upper airway obstruction?
1) Stabilise airway, breathing & circulation
2) +/- intubate or place a surgical airway
3) Obtain IV access
4) Continuous vital sign monitoring
5) +/- supplemental O2
Typical history in epiglottitis?
- Rapid onset of high fever
- Difficulty breathing & swallowing
- Drooling
- NO cough
What does exam typically reveal in epiglottitis?
- Anxious-appearing child
- Sitting forward w/ neck extended in a tripod position w/ chin forward.
- Muffled voice
- Audible stridor w/ laboured breathing
- Cherry red epiglottis
What imaging can be ordered in susepcted epiglottitis?
Laternal neck XR
What will a lateral neck XR reveal in epiglottitis? (2)
1) Thumb sign
2) Swelling of epiglottic folds
Typical history in bacterial tracheitis?
1) Viral URTI
2) Rapid onset of:
- high fever
- progressive stridor
- respiratory distress
- hoarseness
3) Not responsive to nebulised adrenaline
Physical exam findings in bacterial tracheitis? (2)
1) Toxic appearing child
2) Biphasic stridor
What is a toxic appearing child?
Toxic appearance is a clinical presentation characterised by:
1) lethargy
2) poor perfusion
3) marked hypo/hyperventilation
4) cyanosis
What are 4 causes of nasopharyngeal obstruction?
1) Retropharyngeal abscess
2) Peritonsillar abscess
3) Tonsillitis
4) Adenotonsillar hypertrophy
Typical history in retropharyngeal abscess?
1) Typically a preceding viral URTI
2) Neck pain
3) Dysphagia –> poor oral intake
4) Chest pain +/- dyspnoea
Physcial exam findings in retropharyngeal abscess?
1) Anxious & ill appearing
2) Stiff neck & limited neck mobility
3) Palpable neck mass
4) Drooling
5) Respiratory distress
Position of child with epiglottitis vs retropharyngeal abscess?
Epiglottitis –> drool & lean forward in tripod position
Retropharyngeal abscess –> drool & hyperextend neck
Typical history in peritonsillar abscess?
- Worsening sore throat
- Decreased oral intake
- Classic ‘hot potato’ voice
- +/- dysphagia
- +/- unilateral otalgia
Physical exam findings in peritonsillar abscess?
Unilateral tonsillar bulging +/- uvular deviation, drooling or trismus.
How is a diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess made?
Clinical –> doesn’t require imaging
Typical history of tonsillitis?
- Sore throat
- Constitutional symptoms: fever, fatigue
Physical exam findings in tonsillitis?
- Erythematous pharynx
- Enlarged tonsils often w/ exudates
- +/- cervical lymphadenopathy
What is the most common cause of paediatric upper airway obstruction?
Adenotonsillar hypertrophy
What is adenotonsillar hypertrophy?
Abnormal growth of the pharyngeal tonsil and palatine tonsils.
Typical history in adenotonsillar hypertrophy?
- Nightime snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Attention or behavioural problems
- +/- apnoeic episodes
Physical exam findings in adenotonsillar hypertrophy?
- Mouth breathing
- Significantly enlarged tonsils
Some craniofacial malformations can cause upper airway obstruction shortly after birth.
Name 3
1) Bilateral choanal atresia –> causes neonatal respiratory distress during feeding (relieved w/ crying)
2) Nasal deformities e.g. cleft lip/palate
3) Micrognathia
Assess patient for stridor or wheezing.
If stridor during inspiration is present, what should you consider?
Supraglottic or glottic causes of upper airway obstruction.
What are 3 causes of supraglottic or glottic upper airway obstruction?
1) Croup
2) Laryngomalacia
3) Vocal cord dysfunction
Typical age of croup?
6 months to 3 years
Typical history in croup?
- Low grade fever
- URT symtoms e.g. rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion
- Hoarseness
- Barking/seal-like cough