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Airway Assessment and Management


Algorithm: Assessment and Management of Airway

Must-Know Essentials: Assessment of Compromised Airway

Manifestations of Compromised Airway

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    Patient unable to verbalize

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    Noisy breathing

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    Stridor

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    Patient using or retracting accessary muscles of breathing

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    Agitation

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    Central nervous depression

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    Tachypnea

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    Cyanosis

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    Low oxygen saturation

Must-Know Essentials: Definitive Airway

Definition of Definitive Airway

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    A tube in the trachea with a cuff inflated below the vocal cords

Indications for Definitive Airway

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    Maxillofacial trauma:

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      Midface fractures

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      Bilateral mandibular body fracture

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    Inhalation injury

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    Penetrating neck injury

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      Vascular trauma with significant neck hematoma

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    Laryngeal injury: triad of clinical signs

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      Hoarseness

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      Subcutaneous emphysema

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      Palpable fracture

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    Tracheal injury

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    Risk of aspiration

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      Bleeding in the oral cavity

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      Vomiting

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      Unresponsive patients

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    Need for ventilation or oxygenation

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    Inadequate respiratory efforts

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      High cervical spinal cord injury

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      Severe brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] 8 or less)

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    Apnea

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      Neuromuscular paralysis

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      Comatose patients

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    Flail chest

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