Pediatric Advanced Airway Management
Imagine for just a moment that you are three years old, intubated, paralyzed with Pavulon, and wide awake. You are able to feel everything, hear everything, but just not able to do anything about your situation. You try to cry, but not a sound is heard. The only clue that you are awake and hurting is the tear in your eye and your increasing tachycardia. Children, just like adults DO FEEL PAIN! Recent studies have demonstrated that neuromuscular blockers, and especially concurrent sedatives, continue to be used incorrectly, resulting in the horrific state of chemically induced, under sedated, paralysis. Rapid sequence intubation, which was once confined to the O.R. environments, is becoming a frequently utilized adjunct to airway management in prehospital, emergency, and critical care medicine, and consequently an understanding of the commonly administered medications is essential. Lastly, the techniques and criteria for the different intubation options, such as LMA's, oral/nasal intubation, & needle/surgical cricothyroidotomy will be reviewed through case studies.
• "Not tubed" non-invasive oxygen delivery methods
• Placing & keeping the tube in the "good spot"
• "Better living through chemistry": Which drug, when, & why?