Airway (with ‘C’ Spine Control)

1. Airway(with ‘C’ Spine Control) Anatomy

2. Airway task Upper airway Lower airway Airway obstruction Basic Airway Management Advanced Airway Management Regurgitation – simple treatment - advanced treatment

3. Upper Airway Nose Warming Filtering and cleaning (hairs and mucus) Humidification (moist mucosa)

4. Upper Airway Pharynx Nasopharynx – the nasal part Oropharynx – lies behind the mouth Laryngopharynx – continues as oesophagus Functions – Passage of air and food Warming and humidifying Taste Hearing – air enters middle ear Protection – tonsils produce antibodies Speech – resonating chamber for sound ascending from larynx

5. Upper Airway Larynx ‘voice box’ Comprises of cartilages and epiglottis. Functions – Production of sound – pitch, volume and tone Speech Protection of lower airway (ensures food passes into oesophagus). Passageway for air Humidifying, warming and filtering

6. Lower Airway Trachea Composed of 3 layers of tissue held open by between 16 and 20 incomplete ‘C’ shaped cartilage. Functions – Support and patency – cartilage prevents kinking and obstruction as the head and neck move Cough reflex – nerve endings sensitive to irritants Warming, humidifying and filtering

7. Lower Airway Lungs Bronchus, bronchioles, alveoli Functions – Control of air entry And the same functions as those structures superior to the lungs.

8. Airway Obstruction What can cause an airway obstruction? Unconsciousness (tongue), facial injuries, disease, environmental problems , fluids and other FOs.

9. Airway Obstruction Choking Encourage to cough 5 Back slaps 5 Abdominal thrusts Continue cycle until successful or cas becomes unconscious. If unconscious: Commence chest compressions.

11. Basic Airway Management Head tilt/chin lift/jaw thrust Finger sweep Draining fluids from the upper airway Recovery Position (Safe Airway Position)

12. Advanced Airway Management What can we use? Les to cover in practical.

13. Questions?