Emergency Airway Management in Neck Trauma

Madkhali, Ebtesam Eissa Ali; Albati, Sakinah Ali; Ahmad, Halah Foud; Alzhrani, Soud Mohammad; Nassir, Asmaa Yaseen; Albalawi, Bassam Mohammed Oudah; Heji, Anas Saleh; Alhashim, Ali Ghalib; Alarfaj, Anas Abdullrahman; Alsaffar, Amnah Hassan Mansour; Alharbi, Mohammed Ghazi; Alsadah, Batool Mohammed; Alghamdi, Omar Khalid; Alotaibi, Talal Mislat

doi:10.12816/0043478

Emergency Airway Management in Neck Trauma

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Jazan University

² Umm Alqura University

³ King Abdulaziz University

⁴ Ibn Sina National College

⁵ Imam Mohammed Bin Saud University

⁶ Imam Faisal Bin Abdulrahman University

⁷ King Faisal University

⁸ Maternity And Children Hospital – Dammam

⁹ Hera General Hospital

¹⁰ Royal College Of Surgeons In Ireland (RCSI)

¹¹ Majmaah University

10.12816/0043478

Abstract

Airway management in patients who have sustained direct trauma to the airway is among the most challenging problems for emergency clinicians. Blunt or penetrating injuries to the head, oropharynx, neck, or upper chest can result in immediate or delayed airway obstruction. Immediate, definitive airway management is needed when the patient cannot protect his airway or is unable to sufficiently oxygenate or ventilate. Emergent or urgent airway management is specified when a patient develops respiratory distress or when symptoms are progressing rapidly. In addition, airway management often is indicated when the patient appears clinically stable, but the clinician anticipates clinical decline (e.g., smoke inhalation, edema, subcutaneous air, hematoma) or feels that an unprotected airway presents a risk to the patient who requires transport to another facility or to radiology for extensive diagnostic studies. The higher rate of complicated airways in this population mandates that the clinician has to be prepared to use advanced airway techniques, including a surgical airway.

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