Airway Management

Opening the Airways

© Melanie Lamprecht

Airway management is important. Read about how to open airways manually or by using airway adjuncts.

Manual Maneuvers

Chin lift/Head tilt:

Place the fingers of one hand on the protruding part of the chin below the lower jaw. Bring the chin forward by lifting. Meanwhile support the jaw and guide the head back.

Thrusting the jaw:

When choosing this method, always ensure that the neck is stabilized. Place both hands on either side of the neck and push up on the angles of the jaw using your fingers opening the airways. This option would be the appropriate method for trauma patients.

Airway Adjuncts:

Positioning a Nasopharyngeal Airway Tube:

Complications:

Gastric distention and hypoventilation will occur if the tube is too long and it enters the esophagus.

For use:

In patients that still have a gag reflex.

Positioning a Oropharyngeal Airway Tube:

Complications:

Complete airway obstruction will occur if the airway is too long as it may press the epiglottis against the entrance of the larynx.

For use:

In the unconscious patient without a gag reflex.

Bag-Valve-Mask

Bag-valve-mask ventilation procedure:

Complications:

If a patient is not intubated you will not be able to provide adequate ventilatory volumes.

For use:

When ventilating patients in a pre-hospital setting.

Resource: LBFD Training Centre. Automatic External Defibrillation


The copyright of the article Airway Management in First Aid is owned by Melanie Lamprecht. Permission to republish Airway Management must be granted by the author in writing.




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