Precise guide for DGNM, B.Sc Nursing & M.Sc Nursing Students .. regarding Respiratory obstruction / Airway Obstruction, and its management. Highly recommended for II B.Sc Nursing Students.

1. RESPIRATORY
OBSTRUCTION

2. Airway obstruction is a block
age of respiration in the airway.
It can be broadly classified into
being either in the upper airway
or lower airway.
DEFINITION

3. Upper airway obstruction
Causes of upper airway obstruction include
foreign body aspiration,
blunt laryngotracheal trauma,
penetrating laryngotracheal trauma,
tonsillar hypertrophy,
paralysis of the vocal cord or vocal fold,
acute laryngotracheitis such as viral croup,
bacterial tracheitis, epiglottitis, peritonsillar abscess,
pertussis, retropharyngeal abscess, spasmodic croup.
In basic and advanced life support airway
obstructions are often referred to as A-problems.
Management of airways relies on both minimal-
invasive and invasive techniques.

4. Lower airway obstruction
Lower airway obstruction is mainly caused by increased
resistance in the bronchioles (usually from a decreased radius of
the bronchioles) that reduces the amount of air inhaled in each
breath and the oxygen that reaches the pulmonary arteries.
It is different from airway restriction (which prevents air
from diffusing into the pulmonary arteries because of some kind of
blockage in the lungs).
Diseases that cause lower airway obstruction are termed
obstructive lung diseases.
Lower airway obstruction can be measured using
spirometry.
A decreased FEV1/FVC ratio (versus the normal of about
80%) is indicative of an airway obstruction, as the normal amount
of air can no longer be exhaled in the first second of expiration.
The ventilation is therefore affected leading to a
ventilation perfusion mismatch and hypoxia.

5. • Upper airway obstructions occur in the area from nose and
lips to larynx (voice box).
• Lower airway obstructions occur between larynx and the
narrow passageways of lungs.
• Partial airway obstructions allow some air to pass. But can
still breathe with a partial airway obstruction, but it’s
difficult.
• Complete airway obstructions don’t allow any air to pass.
Pt can’t breathe if they have a complete airway obstruction
• Acute airway obstructions are blockages that occur quickly.
Choking on a foreign object is an example of an acute
airway obstruction.
• Chronic airway obstructions occur two ways: by blockages
that take a long time to develop or by blockages that last
for a long time.

6. • inhaling or swallowing a
foreign object
• small object lodged in the
nose or mouth
• allergic reaction
• trauma to the airway from
an accident
• vocal cord problems
• breathing in a large
amount of smoke from a
fire
• viral infections
• bacterial infections
• chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)
• cystic fibrosis
• respiratory illness that
causes upper airway inflam
mation (croup)
• swelling of the tongue or
epiglottis
• abscesses in the throat or
tonsils
• collapse of the tracheal wall
(tracheomalacia)
• asthma
• chronic bronchitis
• emphysema
CAUSES

7. • agitation
• cyanosis (bluish-colored skin)
• confusion
• difficulty breathing
• gasping for air
• panic
• high-pitched breathing noises such a
s wheezing
• unconsciousness
SYMPTOMS

8. alterations in normal breathing pattern, whether rapid
or shallow breathing
decreased breath sounds in lungs
high-pitched breath sounds in the upper airway or
mouth
no breathing
bluish skin color
unconsciousness
DIAGNOSIS

9. The Heimlich maneuver
This is an emergency technique that may help a person
who is choking on a foreign object:
The maneuver involves one person standing behind the
person who is choking, wrapping their arms around the
choking person’s waist.
The person performing the maneuver then makes a fist
with one hand and puts it slightly above the person’s belly
button.
They should then grab that fist with their other hand and
press into the person’s abdomen with five quick thrusts.
They should repeat these five abdominal thrusts until the
object becomes dislodged or emergency services arrive.

13. Epinephrine
Epinephrine can be used to treat airway swelling
due to an allergic reaction.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is used when a person is unable to breathe an
d has lost consciousness. It keeps oxygenated
blood flowing to the brain until emergency services
arrive.
An endotracheal or nasotracheal tube may be
inserted into the airway. This can help get oxygen
through swollen airways. A tracheostomy and
cricothyrotomy are surgical openings made in the
airway to bypass an obstruction.

14. PREVENTION
• Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol before eating.
• Eat small bites of food.
• Eat slowly.
• Chew thoroughly before swallowing.
• Make sure dentures fit properly.
• Don’t smoke.
• Visit ydoctor regularly if they have a condition
that can cause a chronic airway obstruction.

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meets various market segments. With this many slides you are able to make a complete
PowerPoint Presentation that best suit your needs.

22. Free PPT _ Click to add title
Click to edit Master text styles - Standard (4:3)
This PowerPoint Template has clean and neutral design that can be adapted
to any content and meets various market segments. With this many slides
you are able to make a complete PowerPoint Presentation that best suit your
needs.
This PowerPoint Template has clean and neutral design that can be adapted
to any content and meets various market segments. With this many slides
you are able to make a complete PowerPoint Presentation that best suit your
needs.
This PowerPoint Template has clean and neutral design that can be adapted
to any content and meets various market segments. With this many slides
you are able to make a complete PowerPoint Presentation that best suit your
needs.
This PowerPoint Template has clean and neutral design that can be adapted
to any content and meets various market segments.