What is the most serious potential complication of nasopharyngeal airway insertion facial trauma
Download PDF Open All Show
Applicable ToIntroductionNasopharyngeal airways can provide significant airway protection for patients whose level of consciousness is decreased, but who maintain some airway reflexes and for whom oropharyngeal airways would prompt gagging or vomiting. They are also useful for patients who exhibit trismus or have injuries to the mouth or jaw. Indications
Contraindications
Procedure
Notes
ResourcesReferencesNasopharyngeal airways are flexible tubes with one end flared (hence their synonym: nasal trumpets) and the other end beveled that are inserted, beveled end first, through the nares into the pharynx. Pharyngeal airways (both nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal) are a component of preliminary upper airway management for patients with apnea or severe ventilatory failure, which also includes
The goal of all of these methods is to relieve upper airway obstruction caused by a relaxed tongue lying on the posterior pharyngeal wall.
Nasopharyngeal airways are better tolerated and are preferred rather than oropharyngeal airways for patients who are obtunded with intact gag reflexes. Nasopharyngeal airways can be used in some settings where oropharyngeal airways cannot, eg, oral trauma or trismus (restriction of mouth opening including spasm of muscles of mastication). Nasopharyngeal airways may also help facilitate bag-valve-mask ventilation. Absolute contraindications:
Passage of the nasopharyngeal airway into the cranial vault through a disrupted cribriform plate has been reported but is rare. Relative contraindications:
Complications include
The sniffing position—only in the absence of cervical spine injury:
Head and neck positioning to open the airway: Sniffing positionA: The head is flat on the stretcher; the airway is constricted. B: The ear and sternal notch are aligned, with the face parallel to the ceiling (in the sniffing position), opening the airway. Adapted from Levitan RM, Kinkle WC: The airway Cam Pocket Guide to Intubation, ed. 2. Wayne (PA), Airway Cam Technologies, 2007. If cervical spine injury is a possibility:
Minimize the risk of nasal bleeding by making sure the pointed end of the bevel is not scraping along the nasal septum; the opening should be toward the septum and the pointed end should be lateral. The following are some English-language resources that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.
Click here for Patient Education What is a potential complication of inserting a nasopharyngeal airway that is too long?If the NPA is too long, it will either enter the larynx and irritate the coughing and gag reflexes, or be inserted into the vallecula, possibly causing an airway obstruction. 1. If too short, the NPA will fail to separate the soft palate and dropped tongue base from the pharynx.
What is a potential complication of inserting an oropharyngeal airway?Complications. Complications potentially caused by the use of oropharyngeal airways are that it may induce vomiting which may lead to aspiration. Additionally, it may cause or worsen airway obstruction if an inappropriately sized airway is used (i.e., too small).
What is a potential complication of using a nasopharyngeal airway that is too long quizlet?What happens if the nasopharyngeal airway is too long? -It would enter either the larynx and aggravate laryngeal reflexes or enter the space between the epiglottis and the vallecula leading to potential obstruction of the airway.
What is a contraindication for inserting a nasopharyngeal airway?Contraindications to placing an NPA include the following. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or central facial fractures, which generally result from blunt force trauma to the head or face, can cause a structural collapse of the bones that separate the brain from the nasopharyngeal area.
|