Blunt and Penetrating Airway Trauma

Laura V Duggan; Leilani N Doyle; Jordan S Zunder; Mary Hanna

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2022.10.001

Blunt and Penetrating Airway Trauma

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2023 Feb;41(1S):e1-e15. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2022.10.001.

Authors

Laura V Duggan¹, Leilani N Doyle², Jordan S Zunder³, Mary Hanna⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, University of Ottawa, Room B307, 1053 Carling Avenue, Mail Stop 249, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada. Electronic address: laduggan@toh.ca.
² Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, University of Ottawa, Room B307, 1053 Carling Avenue, Mail Stop 249, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/doyleleilani.
³ Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, University of Ottawa, Room B307, 1053 Carling Avenue, Mail Stop 249, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada.
⁴ Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, University of Ottawa, Room B307, 1053 Carling Avenue, Mail Stop 249, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/maryhanna613.

PMID: 36639169
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2022.10.001

Abstract

Airway injury, be that penetrating or blunt, is a high-stakes high-stress management challenge for any airway manager and their team. Penetrating and blunt airway injury vary in injury patterns requiring prepracticed skills and protocols coordinating care between specialties. Variables including patient cooperation, coexisting injuries, cardiorespiratory stability, care location (remote vs tertiary care center), and anticipated course of airway injury (eg, oxygenating well and comfortable vs increasing subcutaneous emphysema) all play a role in determining airway if and when airway management is required. Direct airway trauma is relatively infrequent, but its presence should be accompanied by in-person or virtual otolaryngology support.

Keywords: Airway management; Blunt airway injury; Penetrating airway injury.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Airway Management
Humans
Wounds, Nonpenetrating* / complications
Wounds, Nonpenetrating* / diagnosis
Wounds, Nonpenetrating* / therapy
Wounds, Penetrating* / complications
Wounds, Penetrating* / diagnosis
Wounds, Penetrating* / therapy