critical care medicine
Airway Establishment and Control
Introduction
Airway management consists of Clearing the upper airway Maintaining an open air passage with a mechanical device Sometimes assisting respirations (See also Overview of Respiratory Arrest .) There are many indications for airway control (see table). Methods of establishing an airway include Basic techniques such as head and neck positioning, abdominal thrusts, and back blows (see also How To Do the Heimlich Maneuver in the Conscious Adult or Child and Airway and Respiratory Devices such as Infraglottic techniques ( Tracheal Intubation ) Surgical Airway (eg, scalpel cricothyroidotomy) Whatever airway management techniques are used for a patient in respiratory arrest, initial tidal volume should be 6 to 8 mL/kg ideal body weight and ventilatory rate should be 8 to 10 breaths/minute to avoid negative hemodynamic consequences ( General reference ). Once the etiology of respiratory failure is identified and mechanical ventilation treatment strategies are planned, 