3- Airway management

Question 1

Give 2 reasons why airway management is important

Answer 1

Allows delivery of oxygen & inhaled anaesthetic gas

Scavenging & environmental protection

Intermittent positive pressure ventilation

Allows ventilator support in the ICU

Protects the airway

Question 2

List the sources of oxygen in a practice

Answer 2

Cylinders
Oxygen concentrators

Question 3

Name the 4 types of endotracheal tubes

Answer 3

Red rubber
PVC
Armoured tubes
Cole tubes

Question 4

List some disadvantages of red rubber ET tube

Answer 4

Crack over time
Prone to kinking
Not possible to visualise blockages
Low volume high pressure cuff- can lead to tracheal trauma but good seal

Question 5

What type of cuff does PVC and silicone ET tubes have

Answer 5

Usually have high volume low pressure cuff- less risk of tracheal trauma but relatively good seal

Question 6

What are armoured ET tubes used for?

Answer 6

Wire coil embedded in wall so used for when needing a flexed neck - neurosurgery

Question 7

2 ways to pre-oxygenate patients

Answer 7

Nasal prongs
Nasal catheter
Oxygen cage
Mask

Question 8

What should you do when changing a patients position in regards to airway management?

Answer 8

Disconnect from breathing system

Question 9

Name 2 ways to assess adequacy of the airway

Answer 9

Capnograph = only monitor that assesses alveolar ventillation

Watch patient & bag

Question 10

When are coil ET tubes generally used

Answer 10

designed for emergency use in paediatric anaesthesia - useful for exotic animal anaesthesia

Question 11

Describe Laryngeal Mask Airways

Answer 11

they don’t actually go into the trachea, can be easier to use in rabbits compared to intubating them