Difficult Airway Management 2009 Adrian Sieberhagen
Clinical situation in which there is difficulty in Face Mask Ventilation and inability to intubate
What makes it difficult in ED’s Training/requirements Non-controlled setting Limited pre-procedural evaluation Hypoxia, hypotension, agitation, dynamic medical conditions Numerous logistical & implementation issues
Predicting the Difficult Airway History Physical Examination
History
Cormack and Lehane Class I: the vocal cords are visible Class II the vocals cords are only partly visible Class III only the epiglottis is seen Class IV the epiglottis cannot be seen.
Pregnancy Inflammatory Disease Small mouths Infections Endocrine Congenital Trauma Foreign Body Tumours
Examination
LEMON Look for external deformities Evaluate rule Mallampati Obstruction Neck Mobility
Mallampati Score Class I –visualization of the soft palate, fauces, uvula, and both anterior and posterior pillars Class II –visualization of the soft palate, fauces, and uvula Class III –visualization of the soft palate and the base of the uvula Class IV –soft palate is not visible at all
Thyromental Distance 6.5cm normal Sternomental Distance >12.5cm normal Protrusion of Mandible
Management Prearranged Emergency airway trolley available Most senior staff
Emergency Airway Trolley Rigid laryngoscope blades Tracheal tubes Tracheal tube guides Laryngeal Mask Airways Fibreoptic intubation equipment Non-invasive/minimally invasive airways Surgical Airway CO2 detectors
Management Prearranged Emergency airway trolley available Most senior staff Emergency airway algorithm Deliver supplemental O2
Alternative Airway Techniques LMA/Laryngeal Tube Transtracheal Jet Ventilation Fibreoptic Intubation Retrograde Intubation Lightwand Combitube Surgical Airway
Laryngeal Mask Lubricated LMA inserted into hypopharynx Tip in upper oesophogeal sphincter Inflate Cuff Muscle relaxants not necessary C/I: –Need for high Peak Pressures –Risk of Aspiration –Pts with low lung compliance
Laryngeal Tube
Transtracheal Jet Insuflation
Fibreoptic Intubation
Retrograde Intubation Place guidewire through cricothyroid membrane Guidewire passes cephalad through pharynx and out mouth/nose Railroad ET tube
Lightwand Flexible Inserted through ET tube Insert into larynx Light dims if entering oesophagus Limitations: Dark room
Combitube Double lumen tube Placed into hypopharynx blindly C/I –Oesophageal pathology
Surgical Airway Cricothyroidotomy –Complications: Bleeding Infection Vocal cord damage Tracheal stenosis –C/I <12yrs Laryngotracheal Disruption Coagulopathy
The End