Airway Management + Foreign Body Aspiration

Aaqid Akram MBChB (2013)Clinical Education Fellow

Objectives

• Understand basic anatomy of airway• Recognise an obstructed airway• Simple management techniques to improve

airway • Simple adjuncts to maintain airway• Recognise need for definitive airway• Understand how to insert a definitive airway• Be able to follow the choking algorithm

Larynx

Obstructive Airway

• Snoring• Choking• Gurgling • Stridor• Hoarseness• Silent• Paradoxical ‘see-saw’ chest movement• Cyanosis / hypoxia

Choking Algorithm

Assess Severity

Severe (Ineffective

Cough)

Unconscious

CPR

Conscious

5 Back Blows 5 Abdominal Thrusts

Mild (Effective Cough)

Encourage Coughing

ETT (Definitive Airway)

LMA / iGel

Simple Airway AdjunctOropharyngeal Nasopharyngeal

Head Tilt + Chin Lift / Jaw Thrust

Clear visible airway obstruction

When is a definitive airway required?

Airway Protection– GCS<8– Severe maxillofacial /

Multiple Trauma– Aspiration Risk– Airway obstruction risk– Head Injury with abnormal

mental status

Ventilation and Oxygenation– Respiratory arrest– Respiratory failure– Need for

prolonged ventilatory support– Class III or

IV Haemorrhage with poor perfusion

– Severe Chest Injury – Severe Closed Head

Injury (GCS<8)

Have a read of this…

• http://airway.jems.com/2011/04/intubation-101/

Objectives

• Understand basic anatomy of airway• Recognise an obstructed airway• Simple management techniques to improve

airway • Simple adjuncts to maintain airway• Recognise need for definitive airway• Understand how to insert a definitive airway• Be able to follow the choking algorithm