Airway in Maxillofacial Trauma
Maxillofacial trauma directly impacts on the airway resulting in compromise and hindering attempts to secure the airway delays in securing the airway may lead to morbidity and mortality
Category Airway
Airway Assessment
This page is currently under revision OVERVIEW The goal of airway assessment is to identify patients who may have difficult airways, mandating alternate approaches to airway management “History predicts the future” – whenever possible identify: Airway assessment and prediction of…
Adverse effects of Endotracheal Intubation
Adverse effects of Endotracheal Intubation. Can be classified anatomically or into immediate, short and long term complications.
Three Axis Alignment, Two Curve Theory and the Three Column Model
The ‘sniffing the morning breeze position’, better termed ‘ear-to-sternal notch’ positioning, is a combination of atlanto-occipital extension and neck flexion (neck flexion of 35° and face plane extension of 15° is cited as ideal) and is considered optimal for direct laryngoscopy
Surgical Cricothyroidotomy
Surgical Cricothyroidotomy; open procedure performed to secure the airway via an incision in the cricothyroid membrane - aka emergency surgical airway (ESA)
Stridor
Stridor = sound on inspiration associated with airway narrowing; stridor at rest implies a reduction in airway diameter of >50%
Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI)
Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is an airway management technique that produces inducing immediate unresponsiveness (induction agent) and muscular relaxation (neuromuscular blocking agent) and is the fastest and most effective means of controlling the emergency airway
Intubation, Hypotension and Shock
A modified rapid sequence intubation (RSI) approach is usually preferred in hypotensive, shocked patients
Rapid sequence airway (RSA) and PALM
Rapid sequence airway (RSA) is a modified form of rapid sequence intubation that uses an LMA inserted following induction (+/- administration of neuromuscular blockade) to maximise peri-intubation oxygenation prior to endotracheal tube insertion
Pretreatment drugs for RSI
Traditionally there are four options for pretreatment for Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI): atropine, lidocaine, fentanyl, and defasciculating dose of a non-depolarising neuromuscular blocker
Preoxygenation
Preoxygenation is the administration of oxygen to a patient prior to intubation to extend 'the safe apnoea time'. The primary mechanism is 'denitrogenation' of the lungs, however maximal preoxygenation is achieved when the alveolar, arterial, tissue, and venous compartments are all filled with oxygen.
Post-intubation care
Post-intubation care: key steps in patient care following intubation