Assessing Airway Patency
Overview
Assessing for Airway Patency
- If the patient is talking then this suggests that their airway is patent (however, this is not always the case)
- Look, listen and feel for movement of air
- Stridor (musical, high-pitched sounds) suggests upper airway obstruction
- Snoring is a sign of airway compromise
- Paradoxical abdominal movement is a sign
Causes of Upper Airway Obstruction
- Soft tissue swelling - anaphylaxis, burns, peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis, laryngotracheobronchitis (croup)
- Foreign body aspiration
- Deformity - laryngomalacia, laryngeal mass / web, tracheomalacia
- Tongue enlargement / displacement
- Vocal cord lesion / paralysis
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