Function of the Respiratory SystemFunction of the Respiratory System
Slide 13.2
Oversees gas exchanges (oxygen and carbon
dioxide) between the blood and external
environment
Exchange of gasses takes place within the lungs in
the alveoli
Passageways to the lungs purify, warm, and
humidify the incoming air
Shares responsibility with cardiovascular system
Some of the important anatomic
differences
Anatomy PEDIATRIC ADULT
Tongue Large Normal
Epiglottis Shape Floppy, omega shaped Firm, flatter
Epiglottis Level Level of C3 - C4 Level of C5 - C6
Trachea Smaller, shorter Wider, longer
Larynx Shape Funnel shaped Column
Larynx Position Angles posteriorly away
from glottis
Straight up and down
Narrowest Point Sub-glottic region At level of Vocal
cords
Lung Volume 250ml at birth 6000 ml as adult
Upper Airway Anatomy
Why do we need to breathe?
Without oxygen, cells can’t make energy and
without energy, cells would die
The supply of blood and oxygen to cells and
tissues is called PERFUSION
If perfusion stops then cells die
Airway obstruction
1. Anatomical obstruction
•Obstruction by tongue ( most common cause
•Other cause that constrict the air passage are
(asthma, diphtheria, laryngeal spasm,
swelling after burn of the face, direct injury
caused by blow, swallowing of corrosive
poison).
2. Mechanical obstruction
•Partial or complete blockage of the
air way by solid foreign object,
•Accumulation of fluid in the back of
the throat ( mucus, blood and saliva).
•Aspiration ( inhalation of vomits).
The tongue is the most common source of upper
airway obstruction by dropping back &
obstructing the throat.
A victim with partial obstruction from the tongue
will have snoring respirations & in case of
complete obstruction there is no respirations at
all.
Blocked airway Opened airway by head
tilt and chin (neck) lift
maneuver
Management of obstruction by
Tongue
It can correct using one of several measures that
elevate the base of the tongue away from the
back of the throat.
Head tilt- chin lift maneuver -use one hand to
press backward on the victim's forehead (head
tilt); at the same time, place the fingers of your
other hand under the bony part of the victim's
chin & pull the chin forward (chin lift).
Head tilt and chin lift technique
(Maneuver)
Jaw thrust techniques(Maneuver)
(Jaw thrust technique)
If a cervical spine injury is suspected do
only a jaw thrust maneuver.
Place fingers behind the angles of the
patient's jaw and
Lifting the mandible using both mandible
angles and pushing forward and upward.
Jaw thrust maneuver
Chocking
Airway blockage-mechanical obstruction
Universal sign of chocking-hand around the
neck
Management-Abdominal thrust or chest
thrust
BODY POSITION
Left lateral positioning of a patient aids
airway maintenance by allowing
fluids/vomitus to drain out
Only to be used when spinal injury is NOT
suspected
If spinal injury is suspected, the patient must
be secured solidly to a rigid board so that the
body can be turned to the side as a total unit.
OROPHARYNGEAL AIRWAY (OP
AIRWAY)
Semicircular, disposable and made of hard
plastic. Guedel and Berman are the frequent
types.
Guedel is tubular and has a hollow center.
Berman is solid and has channeled sides.
Displaces the tongue away from the posterior
pharyngeal wall.
Oropharyngeal air way
OP AIRWAY
Even when in place, it is necessary to
maintain manual positioning of the airway by
a head-tilt, chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver.
INDICATIONS
Adjunct for airway control, determines
presence of gag reflex.
Unconscious/unresponsive
OP AIRWAY
Sizing
Hold the airway next to the side of the
patient's face and measuring the length of
the airway from the corner of the mouth to
the tip of the earlobe, or
Center of the mouth to the angle of the
mandible.
INSERTION
Choose the appropriate size
Open the airway
Insert the airway:
1. Using a tongue blade. Preferred method in
children.
2. Insert upside down and rotate into place.
Not to be used in children.
NP AIRWAY
It may be used in a patient who is breathing
but needs assistance in maintaining a patent
airway.
The distal tip sits at the posterior pharynx
While the proximal flare is seated on the
external nares.
NP AIRWAY
Still requires manual airway maneuvers be
maintained during its use.
NP AIRWAY
Indications:
1. When OP is not able to be inserted
2. Airway of choice in spontaneously breathing,
but less responsive patient needing airway
control.
Sizing
1. Proximal end of the tube at the tip of the
nose and the distal end at the earlobe
NP AIRWAY
Technique of Insertion
* Needs to be lubricated.
* Proper size
* Advance with bevel toward the septum
* If patient is breathing you should feel
airflow when placed properly.
BVM With oxygen reservoir
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Indications for the BVM
Respiratory arrest
Cardiopulmonary arrest
To assist inadequate breathing
To hyperventilate in specific situations
Advantages of BVM
Provides immediate ventilation and
oxygenation
Sense of compliance and airway resistance
conveyed to operator
Ideal method of ventilation after intubation
High oxygen concentrations are possible
Can be used with spontaneous respirations
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THE BAG AND MASK AIRWAY
MOTHER OF ALL AIRWAYS
August 14, 202448
BVM Ventilation
Requires practice to master its use
One hand to
–maintain face seal
–position head
–maintain patency
Other hand ventilates
NB before use the BVM has to be checked
for functioning.
One person BVM
Two person BVM
SUCTIONING
Often a neglected skill.
Very important skill that must accompany
airway maintenance
Can be used to open an airway or to
maintain an airway
All suctioning should be considered “sterile”
SUCTIONING
GENERAL RULES
Hyperventilate the
patient, or apply
oxygen in a high-
concentration to those
who are
spontaneously
breathing and monitor
ECG
Use only sterile
devices
Be gentle
Lubricate all suction
catheters and tips
Maximum of 10
seconds of suction
time
Suction on withdrawal
of catheter, rotating
slowly (ET)
Cricothyrotomy
Indications:
–Massive mid-face trauma
precluding the use of
BVM device.
–Inability to control the
airway less invasive
maneuvers.
–Ongoing tracheo-
broncheal hemorrhage
Administration of oxygen
Oxygen is the most important drug that we
can give a patient.
Without it, the body’s cells die and thus the
patient dies also.
Room air contains approximately 21%
oxygen
ADMINISTRATION
Usually stored in seamless, steel cylinders -
color GREEN
Sizes and Capacity:
* “D” 350 L
* “E” 600 L
* “M” 3,000 L
ADMINISTRATION
1. The cylinder contents gauge shows the amount of oxygen
in the cylinder and is calibrated in pounds of pressure per
square inch (p.s.i.).
When the tank is almost depleted (a pressure of 500 p.s.i.
is considered to be "on empty"), the needle points to a red
warning that the tank needs to be replaced
Rebreather Mask
A rebreather mask has a soft plastic reservoir bag
attached at the end that saves one-third of a
person’s exhaled air, while the rest of the air gets out
via side ports covered with a one-way valve. This
allows the person to “rebreathe” some of the carbon
dioxide, which acts as a way to stimulate breathing.
Non - Rebreather Mask
A Non-Rebreather has several one-way valves
in the side ports. This type of mask also has a
reservoir bag attached, but the bag has a one-
way valve that prevents the exhaled carbon
dioxide from getting into the reservoir. This type
of mask does not allow for the rebreathing of
exhaled air because it escapes through the side
ports.