1. The document discusses various airway management and ventilation methods for EMS professionals, including risks, protective measures, and techniques for nasogastric tube insertion, endotracheal intubation, surgical airways, needle thoracostomy, and other alternative airways.
2. Specific details are provided on patient positioning, equipment selection, assessing airway difficulty, intubation techniques like orotracheal intubation, confirming endotracheal tube placement, and complications to be aware of for various airway procedures.
3. Pharmacological assisted intubation techniques are outlined, including use of sedation medications and neuromuscular blocking agents as well as risks, contraindications and monitoring considerations for rapid
2. Risks/Protective Measures Be prepared for: Coughing Spitting Vomiting Biting Body Substance Isolation Gloves Face, eye shields Respirator, if concern for airborne disease
3. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Gastric Tubes Nasogastric Caution with esophageal disease or facial trauma Tolerated by awake patients, but uncomfortable Patient can speak Interferes with BVM seal Orogastric Usually used in unresponsive patients Larger tube may be used Safe in facial trauma
4. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Nasogastric Tube Insertion Select size (French) Measure length (nose to ear to xiphoid) Lubricate end of tube (water soluble) Maintain aseptic technique Position patient sitting up if possible
5. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Nasogastric Tube Insertion Insert into nare towards angle of jaw Advance gradually to measured length Have patient swallow Assess placement Instill air, ausculate aspirate gastric contents Secure May connect to low vacuum (80-100 mm Hg)
6. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Orogastric Tube Insertion Select size (French) Measure length Lubricate end of tube Position patient (usually supine) Insert into mouth Advance gradually but steadily Assess placement (instill air or aspirate) Secure Evacuate contents as needed
7. ET Introduction Endotracheal Intubation Tube into trachea to provide ventilations using BVM or ventilator Sized based upon inside diameter (ID) in mm Lengths increase with increased ID (cm markings along length) Cuffed vs. Uncuffed
8. Endotracheal Intubation Advantages Secures airway Route for a few medications (LANE) Optimizes ventilation, oxygenation Allows suctioning of lower airway
10. Endotracheal Intubation These are NOT Indications Because I can intubate Because they are unresponsive Because I can’t show up at the hospital without it
14. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Orotracheal Intubation Position patient Open mouth Insert laryngoscope blade on right side Sweep tongue to left Identify anatomical landmarks Advance laryngoscope blade Vallecula for curved (Miller) blade Under epiglottis for straight (Miller) blade
15. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Orotracheal Intubation Elevate epiglottis Directly with straight (Miller) blade Indirectly with curved (Macintosh) blade Visualize vocal cords, glottic opening Enter mouth with tube from corner of mouth
16. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Orotracheal Intubation Advance tube into glottic opening about 1/2 inch past vocal cords Continue to hold tube, note location Ventilate, ausculate Epigastrium Left and right chest Inflate cuff until air leak around cuff stops Reassess tube placement
24. Pediatric ET Intubation Pediatric Equipment Differences Uncuffed tube < 8 yoa Miller blade preferred Tube Size Premie: 2.0, 2.5 Newborn: 3.0, 3.5 1 year: 4 Then: (age/4)+4 Pediatric Differences Anatomic Differences Depth (cm) Tube ID x 3 12 + (age/2) easily dislodged Intubation vs BVM
25. Positioning Patient Positioning Goal Align 3 planes of view, so Vocal cords are most visible T - trachea P - Pharynx O - Oropharynx
26.
27. Airway Assessment Cervical Spine Temporal Mandibular Joint A/O Joint Neck length, size and muscularity Mandibular size in relation to face Over bite Tongue size
29. The Lemon Law L Look externally E Evaluate the 3-3-2 rule M Mallampati score O Obstruction? N Neck Mobility
30. Look Morbidly obese Facial hair Narrow face Overbite Trauma
31. Evaluate 3 - 3 - 2 Temporal Mandibular Joint Should allow 3 fingers between incisors 3-4 cm
32. Evaluate 3 - 3 - 2 Mandible 3 fingers between mentum & hyoid bone Less than three fingers Proportionately large tongue Obstructs visualization of glottic opening Greater than three fingers Elongates oral axis More difficult to align the three axis
33. Evaluate 3 - 3 - 2 Larynx Adult located C5,6 If higher, obstructive view of glottic opening Two fingers from floor of mouth to thyroid cartilage
34. Mallampati Score Evaluates ability to visualize glottic opening Patient seated with neck extended Open mouth as wide as possible Protrude tongue as far as possible Look at posterior pharynx Grade based on visual field Grades 1,2 have low intubation failure rates Grades 3,4 have higher intubation failure rates
35. Mallampati Score Not useful in emergent situations Informal version Use tongue blade to visualize pharynx
39. Neck Mobility Align axis to facilitate orotracheal intubation Decreased mobility from C-Spine immobilization Rheumatoid arthritis Quick Test Put chin on chest then move toward ceiling
40. Curved Blade (Macintosh) Insert from right to left Visualize anatomy Blade in vallecula Lift up and away DO NOT PRY ON TEETH Lift epiglottis indirectly From AHA ACLS
41. Straight Blade (Miller) Insert from right to left Visualize anatomy Blade past vallecula and over epiglottis Lift up and away DO NOT PRY ON TEETH Lift epiglottis directly From AHA ACLS
45. Placement of the ETT within the esophagus is an accepted complication. However, failure to recognize and correct is not!
46. Traditional Methods Observation of ETT passing through vocal cords. Presence of breath sounds Absence of epigastric sounds Symmetric rise and fall of chest Condensation in ETT Chest Radiograph
47. All of these methods have failed in the clinical setting
52. Non-Failsafe Presence of breath sounds Absence of epigastric sounds Absence of gastric distention Chest Rise and Fall Large Spontaneous Exhaled Tidal Volumes
53. Non Failsafe Condensation in tube disappearing and reappearing with respiration Air exiting tube with chest compression Bag Valve Mask having the appropriate compliance Pressure on suprasternal notch associated with pilot balloon pressure
55. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Blind Nasotracheal Intubation Assess for difficulty or contraindication Mid-face fractures Possible basilar skull fracture Evidence of nasal obstruction, septal deviation Assemble, check equipment Lubricate end of tube; do not warm Attach BAAM (if available)
56. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Blind Nasotracheal Intubation Position patient (preferably sitting upright) Insert tube into largest nare Advance slowly, but steadily Listen for sound of air movement in tube or whistle via BAAM Advance tube Assess placement Inflate cuff, reassess placement Secure, reassess placement
57. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Digital Intubation Blind technique Variable probability of success Using middle finger to locate epiglottis Lift epiglottis Slide lubricated tube along index finger Assess tube placement/depth as with orotracheal intubation
59. ALS Airway Ventilation Methods Surgical Cricothyrotomy Indications Absolute need for definitive airway, AND unable to perform ETT due for structural or anatomic reasons, AND risk of not securing airway is > than surgical airway risk OR Absolute need for definitive airway AND unable to clear an upper airway obstruction, AND multiple unsuccessful attempts at ETT, AND other methods of ventilation do not allow for effective ventilation, respiration
60. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Surgical Cricothyrotomy Contraindications (relative) No real demonstrated indication Risks > Benefits Age < 8 years (some say 10, some say 12) Evidence of fractured larynx or cricoid cartilage Evidence of tracheal transection
61. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Surgical Cricothyrotomy Tips Know anatomy Short incision, avoid inferior trachea Incise, do not saw Work quickly Nothing comes out until something else is in Have a plan Be prepared with backup plan
62. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Needle Cricothyrotomy/Transtracheal Jet Ventilation Indications Same as surgical cricothyrotomy with Contraindication for surgical cricothyrotomy Contraindications None when demonstrated need Caution with tracheal transection
63. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Jet Ventilation Usually requires high-pressure equipment Ventilate 1 sec then allow 3-5 sec pause Hypercarbia likely Temporary : 20-30 mins High risk for barotrauma
67. ALS Airway/ Ventilation Methods Combitube ® Indications Contraindications Height Gag reflex Ingestion of corrosive or volatile substances Hx of esophageal disease
68. ALS Airway/ Ventilation Methods Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) use in OR Gaining use out-of-hospital Not useful with high airway pressure Not replacement for endotracheal tube Multiple models, sizes
71. BLS & ALS Airway/ Ventilation Methods Esophageal Obturator Airway, Esophageal Gastric Tube Airway Used less frequently today Increased complication rate Significant contraindications Patient height Caustic ingestion Esophageal/liver disease Better alternative airways are now available
78. Pharmacologic Assisted Intubation Neuromuscular Blockade Temporary skeletal muscle paralysis Indications When intubation required in patient who: is awake, has gag reflex, or is agitated, combative
79. Pharmacologic Assisted Intubation Neuromuscular Blockade Contraindications Most are specific to medication Inability to ventilate once paralysis induced Advantages Enables provider to intubate patients who otherwise would be difficult, impossible to intubate Minimizes patient resistance to intubation Reduces risk of laryngospasm
80. Pharmacologic Assisted Intubation NMB Agent Mechanism of Action Acts at neuromuscular junction where ACh normally allows nerve impulse transmission Binds to nicotinic receptor sites on skeletal muscle Depolarizing or non-depolarizing Blocks further action by ACh at receptor sites Blocks further depolarization resulting in muscular paralysis
81. Pharmacologic Assisted Intubation Disadvantages/Potential Complications Does not provide sedation, amnesia Provider unable to intubate, ventilate after NMB Aspiration during procedure Difficult to detect motor seizure activity Side effects, adverse effects of specific drugs
83. Pharmacologic Assisted Intubation Summarized Procedure Prepare all equipment, medications while ventilating patient Hyperventilate Administer induction/sedation agents and pretreatment meds (e.g. lidocaine or atropine) Administer NMB agent Sellick maneuver Intubate per usual Continue NMB and sedation/analgesia prn
85. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Needle Thoracostomy Indications Positive signs/symptoms of tension pneumothorax Cardiac arrest with PEA or asystole with possible tension pneumothorax Contraindications Absence of indications
86. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Tension Pneumothorax Signs/Symptoms Severe respiratory distress or absent lung sounds (usually unilateral) resistance to manual ventilation Cardiovascular collapse (shock) Asymmetric chest expansion Anxiety, restlessness or cyanosis (late) JVD or tracheal deviation (late)
87. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Needle Thoracostomy Prepare equipment Large bore angiocath Locate landmarks: 2nd intercostal space at midclavicular line Insert catheter through chest wall into pleural space over top of 3rd rib (blood vessels, nerves follow inferior rib margin) Withdraw needle, secure catheter like impaled object
88. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Chest Escharotomy Indications Presence of severe edema to soft tissue of thorax as with circumferential burns inability to maintain adequate tidal volume, chest expansion even with assisted ventilation Considerations Must rule out upper airway obstruction Rarely needed
89. ALS Airway/Ventilation Methods Chest Escharotomy Procedure Intubate if not already done Prepare site, equipment Vertical incision to anterior axillary line Horizontal incision only if necessary Cover, protect
90. Airway & Ventilation Methods Saturday’s class Practice using equipment orotracheal intubation nasotracheal intubation gastric tube insertion surgical airways needle thoracostomy combitube retrograde intubation
Editor's Notes
Mouths Can J Anaesth 1991; 38:687 Davies, Eagle M Length of Mandible, subluxation to mandible. Is the mandibular space wide enough O Ease, symerty and range of opening U Mallampati score T adequate dentation, loose teeth, dental appliances H flexion, extension, rotation of head upon neck S Obesity, buffalo hump, kyphosis. Large breast
Makes intubation and ventilation difficult or impossible even in the absence of other predictions Blood vomitus fluid edema