Airway Obstruction Flashcards
What is the larynx made up of ?
Cartilages and ligaments. It is the junction between the upper and lower respiratory tracts
True or False. In a patient with a patent airway, the vocal cords should vibrate freely
False. the vocal cords do not vibrate - they move gently together
When do the vocal cords abduct
When you breathe
When do the vocal cords adduct
When you speak
Give some main differences of a child’s airways
Obligate nasal breather Large tongue Narrow subglottis Large head Small nares Small, soft larynx Higher position Weak neck muscles; floppy head
Why is the airway at risk with epiglottitis and croup
Due to a change in pressure caused by obstructive airflow, the soft part of the larynx will collapse
Describe the relationship between the radius of an airway and the work of breathing
The smaller the radius, the larger the work of breathing
Name possible causes of an airway obstruction
Inflammatory / infective causes / allergy foreign bodies physical compression invasion of airway trauma/ Iatrogenic trauma Neurological causes Neoplastic causes Burn Congenital airway pathology
Name some signs and symptoms of an airway obstruction
SOB on exertion SOB at rest Stridor Coughing choking inability to complete a sentence sternal / subcostal recession tracheal tug dusky skin colour of skin dysphagia dysphonia pyrexia cyanosis
What is stridor
High pitched harsh noise due to turbulent airflow resulting from airway obstructions
What is starter
Low pitched sonorous sound arising from nasopharyngeal airway
What might have to happen to a child with obstructive sleep apnoea
Removal of the adenoids and tonsils
On a chest xray, what are the signs that there is an obstruction
A lung may go almost completely “black” as it fills up with CO. If the other lung was not affected then it would look normal
Possible trachea deviation - mediastinal shift
What causes recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
HPV of the larynx
Describe the appearance of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Cant see the vocal cords - they are covered in small spots
Can cause severe breathing problems especially in kids
