Say "Ah..."
This classification system predicts the difficulty of mask ventilation and intubation by assessing factors such as obesity, beard growth, and edentulism.
What is the Mallampati score?
Due to its increased risk of airway fire, this commonly used anesthetic gas should be avoided or minimized in ENT laser surgeries.
What is oxygen (FiO₂ should be kept as low as safely possible) or nitrous oxide?
This condition, often associated with OSA, results from prolonged airway obstruction leading to hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and eventual right-sided heart failure.
What is Cor Pulmonale?
When managing an anticipated difficult airway, this intubation technique allows for visualization of the airway while maintaining spontaneous ventilation.
What is an awake fiberoptic intubation?
This life-threatening complication can occur during ENT, neurosurgical, or other procedures "above the heart" when venous air is entrained into the circulation due to a pressure gradient.
What is a venous air embolism (VAE)?
This nerve reflex can cause severe bradycardia when traction is applied to the extraocular muscles during ophthalmologic procedures.
What is the oculocardiac reflex?
This type of airway management device is often preferred in ENT surgeries to reduce the risk of airway fire when using lasers.
What is a laser-resistant endotracheal tube (ETT)?
This condition, common in children undergoing tonsillectomy, is characterized by recurrent episodes of hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and increased airway resistance.
What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
This emergency maneuver is used to prevent aspiration during rapid sequence induction by applying external pressure to the cricoid cartilage.
What is Sellick’s maneuver?
This is the most classic and overt sign of NPPE, seen upon extubation in affected patients.
What is pink frothy sputum?
This inhaled anesthetic agent is typically avoided in middle ear surgeries due to its ability to expand in closed-air spaces, potentially leading to increased middle ear pressure.
What is nitrous oxide?
This is the first and most critical step in managing an airway fire.
What is stopping ventilation and removing the endotracheal tube?
One of the most effective surgical treatments for pediatric OSA involves the removal of these structures.
What are the tonsils and adenoids?
This surgical airway procedure is the definitive, invasive treatment when endotracheal intubation fails and a patient cannot be ventilated.
What is a cricothyrotomy?
The "usual" treatments for NPPE.
What are Oxygen therapy and diuretics?
This can result in a surgical emergency, often associated with Ludwig’s Angina, requiring an awake tracheostomy to secure the airway.
What is airway compromise due to submandibular cellulitis?
Besides air, these can be used to fill the cuff of an endotracheal tube to help prevent ignition in case of laser use.
What are saline and methylene blue?
Patients with OSA often experience this phenomenon in PACU due to residual anesthetic effects and decreased pharyngeal muscle tone, increasing their risk of airway collapse.
What is postoperative respiratory depression?
This nerve is at risk of injury during thyroid and airway surgeries, potentially leading to hoarseness or vocal cord paralysis.
What is the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
This common intraoperative or postoperative event, often occurring after laryngospasm or airway obstruction, can precipitate NPPE.
What is forceful inspiration against a closed airway?
Patients with this congenital condition, often first encountered in pediatrics, have craniofacial abnormalities that increase the risk of a difficult airway and require specialized intubation techniques.
What is Pierre Robin sequence?
In addition to stopping ventilation and removing the endotracheal tube, this next step should be taken immediately to prevent further airway damage.
What is applying water/saline to the patient's airway?
This type of airway collapse, commonly seen in OSA patients, which can be assessed via DISE, leads to recurrent episodes of apnea and hypoxia during sleep.
What is upper airway obstruction due to pharyngeal collapse?
This first-line acute treatment for HAE attacks works by replacing the missing or dysfunctional C1 esterase inhibitor.
What is C1-INH concentrate?
This patient population, due to increased airway resistance and stronger inspiratory effort, is at higher risk for developing NPPE following upper airway obstruction.
Who are young, healthy, and muscular patients?