1. Introduction

2. Basic Monitoring Equipment

3. Preoxygenation Equipment

4. Airway Blockage Techniques and Equipment

5. Fluid Suction

6. Invasive Airway

7. Rescue Devices

8. Surgical Intervention - Cricothyrotomy

9. Closing Comments

Airway trauma is a critical and potentially life-threatening condition arising from blunt and penetrating injuries to the neck and the chest. Given the severity of these incidents, timely diagnosis and management become imperative for patient survival, as concomitant injuries and nonspecific symptoms may otherwise lead to fatal outcomes. The mortality of airway trauma victims is primarily attributed to hypoxia and airway mismanagement, factors known to contribute to up to 34% of prehospital deaths in these patients.

Proper airway management is crucial when dealing with airway injuries. Prompt and efficient management not only ensures the patient’s immediate survival but also plays a pivotal role in minimizing the impact on respiratory function and overall quality of life. The main objective is to establish a secure and patent airway, enabling efficient ventilation and later surgical repair.

Upon the arrival of the adult trauma patient in the emergency department, there is a notable shift in the available choices for airway care. Within the emergency department, there is a diverse range of highly skilled individuals specialized in advanced airway management. Additionally, there is a wide range of available equipment, including various airway adjuncts.

This video delivers a thorough and detailed exposition of the equipment utilized in the airway management. Beginning with the basic preoxygenation equipment, simple high-flow nasal cannulas emerge as a primary tool, capable of delivering a continuous flow of oxygen reaching up to 70 L/min. This straightforward device is often the initial choice for oxygen supplementation. However, should this method prove insufficient, the tool in line is the non-rebreather mask equipped with a reservoir, ensuring the delivery of 100% oxygen. In cases where more robust intervention is warranted, the bag-valve-mask (BVM) steps into the spotlight. This device allows for continuous positive-pressure ventilation, ensuring a consistent flow of pure oxygen. However, difficulty with BVM ventilation should be anticipated in patients who have sustained severe maxillofacial injuries that disrupt bones and create instability or disfigurement in the middle or lower face.

Watch this video where Dr. Ludmer at UChicago Medcine describes the airway equipment that they have available for when a patient has an airway problem.

DOI
Publication Date	N/A
Article ID	299.13
Production ID	0299.13
Volume	N/A
Issue	299.13
https://doi.org/10.24296/jomi/299.13

Airway Equipment

Procedure Outline

Table of Contents