The problems of airway management in patients with neck injuries

Overview

Neck injuries can become life-treating disease mainly thanks to a probable airways obstruction. Airway management in such cases ranks in thecategory of the „difficult airways“. This presentation deals with kinds of the neck injury, their typical symptoms, especially with regard to possibleairways injury. Adequate airway management in patients with the neck injury remains the first priority. We present a survey of kinds of the airwaysmanagement, their benefit and risk. Three case presentations of patients with severe neck injury are presented, including the diagnostic process andthe therapy description. Necessity of a complex diagnostic process even in cases of suspected airways trauma is emphasized.

Key words:
airway management – subcutaneous emphysema – Combitube – crycothyreotomy – cricothyreopuncture