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.
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
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