Transcript mtcz.org

Challenging Resusitations
Ideas and practical application of difficult and
complicated situations
Scott Braithwaite
Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic/
FTO
The “Stuff” We'll Learn
Recognize the potential of complicated situations
and their impact on patient care
Recognize threats to “Complicated ABCs” and apply
specialized techniques in order to overcome the
complication
Fall back on effective BLS when ALS is
compromised
Reassess the difficult patient for recurring problems
What are my Chances?
Controlled Environment:
What are my Chances?
Controlled Environment: A situation in which most,
if not all, factors can be precisely manipulated, changed
and modified. Example: OR, ER
What are my Chances?
Controlled Environment: A situation in which most,
if not all, factors can be precisely manipulated, changed
and modified. Example: OR, ER
Uncontrolled Environment:
What are my Chances?
Controlled Environment: A situation in which most,
if not all, factors can be precisely manipulated, changed
and modified. Example: OR, ER
Uncontrolled Environment: A situation in which
most, if not all, factors cannot be modified. Slight
variations can complicate the overall situation.
Example: “The Field”
Areas To Watch Out For
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Securing and Moving
Airway
How would you handle these airways?
Airway
Basic anatomy
Airway
Normal Airway
Airway
Normal Airway
Abnormal Airway
Identify Difficult Airways
MEDICTUBES
Mouth, Mandible
Excessive Weight
Deformity
Incisors
C-Spine
Thyromental Distance
Uvula
Burns
Emesis
Stridor
Identify Difficult Airways
Mouth, Mandible
Measure the width of the
mouth opening. Anything less
than three (3) fingers width can
complicate laryngoscopy.
Mandible should be without
deformity or dislocation.
Identify Difficult Airways
Excessive Weight
Overweight, pregnant or
no-neck patients can also be
very complicated. Complete
repositioning of the patient
may be required in order to
visualize the airway
Copyright Airwaycam.com
Identify Difficult Airways
Deformity
Assess for any type of
deformities, hematomas, tumors,
goiters, or similar atypical
manifestations.
This patient is a status-post
burn victim at home resting.
Bonus: How would you cspine?
Identify Difficult Airways
Incisors
Assess for any trauma to teeth, any
types of overbite or overjet (buck
teeth), dentures or other custom dental
appliances.
Identify Difficult Airways
C-Spine
C-spined pts. Have
mis-aligned airway
structures, landmarks
and pathways.
These pts are NOT
to be manipulated
when attempting
intubation.
Identify Difficult Airways
Thyromental Distance
Distance from chin to
thyroid cartilage. Anything
less than three (3) fingers
width suggests difficult
intubation.
Identify Difficult Airways
Uvula
Ideally, you should be
able to see the entire
oropharynx, including the
uvula. Any airways with a
partial or complete
concealment of this structure
may prove difficult to
intubate.
Identify Difficult Airways
Burns
Identify Difficult Airways
Emesis
Identify Difficult Airways
Stridor
Classic sign of upper
airway obstruction. Can be
caused by foreign bodies,
tumors, cysts, inflammation or
trauma.
Techniques
Landmark Recognition
External Laryngeal Manipulation (ELM)
Head- Extension Laryngoscopy Position (HELP)
Backwards, Upward, Rearward Pressure (BURP)
C-Spine Considerations
Paraglossal Intubation
“Ice-pick”
Digital Intubation
Combi-tube
Needle Cricothyrotomy
Anatomy
External Laryngeal Manipulation
Airwaycam.com
HELP
Head Elevation Laryngoscopy Position
Vocal cords can be brought into
view with head flexion and
elevation. This facilitates slack of
jaw and tongue, allowing better
viewing of vocal cords. Head can
then be supported by caregiver's
body.
Note: NOT to be used if
cervical trauma is suspected!
BURP
Backwards, Upward, Rear-ward, Pressure
Similar to ELM, aim towards right
ear or right parietal area.
Can be done by another caregiver.
Prefered for patients in spinal
motion restriction.
C-Spine Considerations
An east coast field study found
that when a Pt in SMR is elevated
about 7 degrees, success rates for
initial intubation jumped from 84%
in the supine Pt, up to 95% in the
elevated Pt, and were generally
done 10 seconds faster than nonelevated Pts.
(Pinchalk intubation resarch
Mark Pinchalk, David Hostler, Paul Paris, Ronald Roth)
Paraglossal Intubation
The reason straight blades exist
Blade slides alongside of tongue.
Slight leftward anterior pressure.
ET tube may be able to slip through the blades channel, if not go
under the blade and up into vocal cords.
Trusted technique for difficult intubation.
Henderson JJ “The use of paraglossal straight blade
laryngoscopy in difficult tracheal intubation” Anaesthesia.
52(6):552-560, 1997
“Ice-Pick”
Also called inverse intubation
Scope held in right hand,
advanced toward uvula, then pull
downward towards anterior
Blade will find “home”
Vocal cords will be
inverted- watch for it!
Digital Intubation
Combi-Tube
Excellent secondary
airway adjunct.
Very versitile, can be
used in most situations.
Pts must be
unresponsive, apneic with
NO gag intact, over 15 y/o
and at least 5 ft tall.
Contraindicated in
FBAO, Facial and/or
esophageal trauma or
disease, Caustic ingestions.
Needle Cricothyrotomy
Consider in cases of FBAO,
Severe facial trauma,
Laryngospasm, Infections, Soft
tissue swelling.
Last resort for advanced
airway. Does not allow
ventilation, only oxygenation.
Studies show needle cric
makes no improvement in
mortality of the full arrest Pt.
Very detrimental in fact.
Circulation
Some cool little tricks to help establish IVNS access
BP cuff for less pronounced veins
“Wave”, or “Pulse” Technique
Trendelenburg
Stethoscope for EJ
Pitting Edema- Taking Advantage of it's Flaw
Circulation
BP Cuff
Wider is Better!
Allows finer control of tourniquet effect
You will see veins that did not appear
with the thinner band
Circulation
The “Wave” or “Pulse” Technique
Extremely useful in situations in which you cannot
see any visible veins or “shadows” of the upper
forearm.
Starting at the dorsal part of the Pts hand, deeply
and quickly brush the skin, feeling for proximal vein
“pulsations” with your other hand.
Circulation
Trendelenburg
Assists with “autoinfusion”, wherein gravity pulls
additional fluid from the raised extremity into the
core. This in turn puts more fluid into dependant
extremities, allowing veins to become gorged.
Helpful in full cardiac arrests when attempting IV
access.
Circulation
Stethoscope
Acts as a tournequet, helps engorge the external
jugular veins.
Assists with stablizing the jugulars.
Circulation
Pitting Edema?
Use pitting edema to your advantage!
Pressing fluid away from a site gives you a few
seconds to find a suitible vein, press the fluid away
again, and you have another few seconds to establish
the IV.
BP cuff could assist with pressing the fluid away.
Securing and Moving
Getting Ready to Move
Often enough our pts are
not able to move themselves
“Dead weight” needs
consideration when faced with
confined space or tight corners
Questions?