PREPARED BY : Meghna Sharma, katyayani lokawar ,

Abhishek.
GROUP : 166
THEME:

UPPER AIRWAY
OBSTRUCTION
PLAN :
● Introduction
● Types of obstruction
● Etiology
● Symptoms
● Diagnosis
● First aid
● References
WHAT IS AN UPPER AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION?

Upper airway obstruction happens when there is an anatomic narrowing or

occlusion that results in a reduced ability to exchange gas in and out of the
lungs.Areas in the upper airway that can be affected are the windpipe
(trachea), voice box (larynx), or throat (pharynx). Some airway
obstructions are minor, while others are life threatening emergencies that
require immediate medical attention.The obstruction can lead to
respiratory failure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest or death within minutes.
Types :
Partial airway obstruction
● Partial airway obstructions allow
some air to pas
● You can still breathe with a
partial airway obstruction, but it's
difficult.
● Victim may cough
● Breathing is noisy or hoarse
● Can speak(hoarse voice)
Complete airway obstruction
● Complete airway obstructions
don't allow any air to pass.
● You can't breathe if you have a
complete airway obstruction.
● Victim doesn't cough
● Unable to speak
● Victim have pronounced motor
excitement
 Etiology
● Allergic reactions in which the trachea or throat swell closed, peanuts and tree
nuts, antibiotics (such as penicillin), and blood pressure medicines
● Chemical burns and reactions
● Epiglottitis (infection of the structure separating the trachea from the
esophagus)
● Fire or burns from breathing in smoke
● Foreign bodies, such as peanuts and other breathed-in foods, pieces of a
balloon, buttons, coins, and small toys
● Infections and injury of the upper airway area
● Severe asthma attack
● Throat cancer and Vocal cord problems
Symptoms
● Difficulty breathing, gasping for air, leading to panic.
● Unconsciousness (lack of responsiveness)
● Bluish color to the skin (cyanosis)
● Wheezing, crowing, whistling, or other unusual breathing noises indicating
breathing difficulty.
● Choking.
● Confusion.
● Agitation or fidgeting.(act restlessly or nervously).
Diagnosis :
● The accepted standard tests for diagnosing upper-airway obstruction were
bronchoscopy, laryngoscopy, and chest or neck computed tomogram.
● During bronchoscopy, a thin tube (bronchoscope) is passed through your nose or
mouth, down your throat and into your lungs.
● laryngoscope, a thin tube with a light, lens and a video camera that helps providers
look closely at your larynx.
● A CT scan is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and
computer technology to produce images of the inside of the body. It shows detailed
images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, organs and blood
vessels.
First aid :
● If Victim chokes ask him if he can breathe. Key question to
differentiate partial obstruction from complete obstruction.
● If it's partial obstruction encourage the victim to continue coughing.
● If the patient have signs of complete airway obstruction and is
conscious
● Stand behind the victim support his chest with one hand an tilt him
forward. Perform a series of back blows between the shoulder blades
with the base of hand. If the technique is unable to eliminate the
obstruction use heimlich maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver
● This is an emergency technique that may help a
person who is choking on a foreign object:
● Stand behind the person who is choking, wrapping
your arms around their waist.
● Make a fist with one hand and puts it slightly above
the person’s belly button.
● Grab that fist with your other hand and press into
the person’s abdomen with five quick thrusts.
● Repeat these five abdominal thrusts until the object
becomes dislodged or emergency services arrives.
● Alternative to Heimlich maneuver abdominal thrust
is thoracic compression( hands located in middle of
the sternum) used for the patients in late pregnancy
and obese victims and ones with abdominal injury
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is used when a person is unable to breathe and
has lost consciousness. It keeps oxygenated blood
flowing to the brain until emergency services arrive.

To perform CPR:

Place the heel of your hand in the center of their chest.

Place your other hand on top, and use your upper

body weight to push straight down on the chest.

You should do this about 100 to 120 timesTrusted

Source per minute until an ambulance arrives.
References:
● https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000067.htm
● https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
● https://www.healthline.com/health/airway-obstruction
● https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine
● https://www.webmd.com