Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured: Airway Management

Flashcards covering airway anatomy, physiology, assessment, oxygen therapy, and ventilation techniques from Chapter 11.

Upper Airway

Consists of all anatomic airway structures above the vocal cords, including the nose, mouth, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx.

Pharynx

A muscular tube extending from the nose and mouth to the level of the esophagus and trachea, composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Larynx

A complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous structures that marks where the upper airway ends and the lower airway begins.

Thyroid cartilage

The structure that forms a "V" shape anteriorly, commonly referred to as the Adam’s apple.

Cricoid cartilage

The first ring of the trachea, also known as the cricoid ring.

Cricothyroid membrane

Elastic tissue that connects the thyroid cartilage superiorly to the cricoid ring inferiorly.

Glottis

The area between the vocal cords which is the narrowest portion of the adult’s airway.

Vocal cords

White bands of thin muscle tissue that produce speech and protect the trachea from entry of substances like water and vomitus.

Carina

The point where the trachea divides into two main stem bronchi, the right and the left.

Bronchioles

Structures made of smooth muscle that dilate and constrict as oxygen passes through them, connecting to the alveoli.

Alveoli

Millions of thin-walled, balloon-like sacs surrounded by pulmonary capillaries where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

Mediastinum

The area between the lungs containing the heart, great vessels, esophagus, trachea, major bronchi, and many nerves.

Phrenic nerve

A nerve found in the thorax that allows the diaphragm to contract, making breathing possible.

Inhalation

The active, muscular part of breathing where the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, creating negative pressure within the thorax.

Partial pressure

The amount of gas in the air or dissolved in fluid, such as blood.

Tidal volume

A measure of the amount of air in milliliters moved into or out of the lungs during a single breath; for an average adult, this is approximately $500\,mL$.

Dead space

The portion of inspired air that fails to reach the alveoli.

Exhalation

A passive process where the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, increasing pressure in the thorax to push air out.

Hypoxia

A condition in which the tissues and cells of the body do not get enough oxygen.

Hypoxic drive

A primary control of breathing based on levels of oxygen rather than carbon dioxide, typically seen in patients with end-stage COPD.

Oxygenation

The process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the bloodstream.

Respiration

The actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli and in the tissues of the body.

Metabolism

Also known as cellular respiration, the chemical processes through which cells take energy from nutrients.

External respiration

The process of breathing fresh air into the respiratory system and exchanging gases between the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries.

Surfactant

A substance that reduces surface tension within the alveoli to keep them expanded for easier gas exchange.

Internal respiration

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the systemic circulatory system and the cells of the body.

Chemoreceptors

Sensors that monitor oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen ions, and pH levels to provide feedback to the respiratory centers in the brain.

Agonal gasps

Occasional, gasping breaths that may occur after the heart has stopped.

Cheyne-Stokes respirations

A breathing pattern with an increasing rate and depth followed by apnea, often seen in stroke or head injury patients.

Kussmaul respirations

Deep, rapid respirations commonly seen in patients with metabolic acidosis.

Pulse oximetry

An assessment of the percentage of hemoglobin molecules bound in arterial blood, with normal $Spo_2$ being greater than $94\%$ on room air.

Capnography

A method of measuring end-tidal $CO_2$ that provides both a digital numeric reading and a graph from breath to breath.

Head tilt–chin lift maneuver

The standard procedure to open the airway in patients who are not suspected of having sustained spinal trauma.

Jaw-thrust maneuver

The technique used to open the airway for patients suspected of having a cervical spine injury.

Tonsil tips

Rigid pharyngeal suction tips, also called Yankauer tips, used to effectively suction the mouth and nose.

French catheters

Nonrigid plastic catheters, also called whistle-tip catheters, used for suctioning the nose and liquid secretions.

Oropharyngeal airway

An airway adjunct used to keep the tongue from blocking the upper airway in unresponsive patients without a gag reflex.

Nasopharyngeal airway

An airway adjunct used for semiconscious or unconscious patients with an intact gag reflex who cannot maintain their own airway.

Recovery position

A position used to maintain a clear airway in an unconscious patient who is uninjured and breathing adequately.

Pin-indexing system

A safety system for portable oxygen cylinders featuring specific pin patterns to prevent connection to the wrong gas.

Oxygen toxicity

Damage to cellular tissue resulting from excessive oxygen levels in the blood and the production of oxygen free radicals.

Nonrebreathing mask

An oxygen-delivery device that combines a mask and reservoir bag to deliver high concentrations of oxygen, typically at $10$ to $15\,L/min$.

Nasal cannula

An oxygen-delivery device providing $24\%$ to $44\%$ inspired oxygen with flow rates between $1$ and $6\,L/min$.

Positive pressure ventilation

Artificial ventilation that forces air into the chest cavity, which can decrease cardiac output by increasing intrathoracic pressure.

Gastric distention

A condition occurring when artificial ventilation fills the stomach with air, often due to excessive pressure or speed of breaths.

Passive ventilation

Air movement into and out of the chest resulting from chest compressions, also known as apneic oxygenation.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Noninvasive ventilatory support that increases lung pressure to open alveoli and push interstitial fluid back into circulation.

Tracheal stoma

A permanent opening in the neck that connects the trachea directly to the skin.

BE MAGIC

A mnemonic for intubation: Bag-mask preoxygenation, Evaluate, Manipulate, Attempt, supraGlottic airway, Confirm/Correct.