Lecture notes
Lecture notes Acute Care (SHN169)
- Module
- Acute Care (SHN169)
- Institution
- Swansea University (SWAN)
Lecture notes on Airway
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SHN2004 – AirwayAirway
Function of the
airway
Upper airway
The function of the upper airway is to warm, humidify and filter atmospheric air entering
the lungs. The upper airway also protects the lower airway, the production of mucus and
the action of tiny filament hairs called cilia trap, transport and omit fragments of
material alien to the normal airway.
Lower airway
The lower respiratory tract is primarily responsible for the diffusion of oxygen into the
bloodstream and removal of carbon dioxide through upper airway expiration.
Airway
Obstruction
Obstruction of the upper airway is a medical emergency.
Obstruction may be partial or complete and may occur at any level of the airway from
nose/mouth to trachea.
Untreated airway obstruction can cause hypoxic damage to the vital organs and lead to
cardiac arrest and death.
Causes of airway obstruction
Reduced level of consciousness
Body fluids (such as secretions or vomit)
A foreign body
Inflammation (anaphylaxis or burns)
Infection
A trauma
Airway
Assessment
The easiest and fastest airway assessment is to speak to your patient – if they respond
verbally then their airway is patent.
Use a LOOK, LISTEN and FEEL approach to assess the airway. The goal is to assess if the
airway is patent or if there are signs of obstruction.
LOOK:
For chest and/or abdominal movement, as this will indicate movement of air in and out
on inspiration and expiration.
Is there any signs of a foreign body inhalation?
Is the child drooling or unable to swallow own secretions?
LISTEN:
Is the child talking or crying?
Are there audible sounds of breathing? Normal air entry should almost be silent.
, SHN2004 – Airway
Can you hear stridor? This means the airway is partially obstructed.
Can you hear gurgling? This may indicate fluid in the upper airway.
Can you hear snoring? This may mean that the pharynx is partially obstructed by the
tongue.
FEEL:
For air entry and exit.
Airway Management-Choking
Mild airway obstruction:
Victim is able to speak, cough and breathe.
Severe airway obstruction:
Victim cannot speak, has a weak or silent cough and is unable to breathe
Airway Management – Simple Manoeuvres
Infant<1 – Neutral
Child>1 – Head tilt chin lift
Airway Management – Airway Adjuncts
Airway adjuncts such as the oropharyngeal (OP) airway or the nasopharyngeal (NP)
airway can be very useful in maintaining the patient’s airway.
Nurses must know when to use them and how to size and insert them.
Oropharyngeal Airway
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