AIRWAY MANAGEMENT

Upper Airway
 Lower Airway
(Mechanics of Respiration)
 Airway Management
Assess for Airway Obstruction!
• Difficulty breathing
• Patient conduct (anxious, combative)
• Abnormal sounds

Improve/Establish Airway Through Maneuvers

• Chin lift
• Jaw thrust

Remove Debris/Suction
Airway Adjuncts:
• Nasal airway (Primary)
• Oral airway
 Airway Obstruction

• The most common

obstruction is from a
prolapsed tongue!

• Why?
 Airway Obstruction

• Blood Clots, Teeth

• Soft Tissue & Bones
• Swelling
• Position of Head
• Head Injury
 Improve/Establish Airway

Chin Lift Method

(NON-TRAUMA)
 Improve/Establish Airway

Jaw Thrust Method

Remove Debris and Suction
Nasopharyngeal Airway
 Nasopharyngeal Airway

• Lubricate !
• Insert along floor of
nasal cavity
• If resistance met, use
back-and forth
motion
• Don’t Force – Use
other nostril
• If patient gags,
withdraw slightly
Oral Pharyngeal Airway
 Oral Pharyngeal Airway

• Measure
• Confirm patient is
unconscious
• Insert, rotate 180
degrees as inserting
Questions?