Airway Management / Ventilation

Refresh your airway management skills.

Airway Management / Ventilation Emergency Life Support Heart Rhythms Infectious Diseases Other Medical Concerns Stroke Trauma / Incidents

Out-Of-Hospital CPAP vs BiPAP

When using CPAP or BiPAP, oxygenation occurs by delivering oxygenated air, usually at high concentrations, directly to the lungs and prevents alveolar collapse, therefore allowing more alveolar recruitment.

The Value of Capnography for Prehospital Providers

Capnography is becoming increasingly popular in EMS care. Its benefits include receiving real-time information about ventilatory status and, in turn, perfusion status.

Special Considerations for Pediatric Patients: Endotracheal Intubation

Only 7-13% of EMS calls involve pediatric patients, and those requiring airway management are infrequent. Learn more about the challenges of pediatric intubation.

Difficult Airway Evaluation and Management Part 1

The concepts of difficult airways are frequently discussed in the field of anesthesia. Every patient that is anesthetized goes through an airway assessment to determine the potential of a difficult airway. Different tests and observations can help point to a potential difficult airway. Learn more about airway history and how to assess difficult airways.

Evaluating Difficult Airways Part 2: Airway Management Devices

There are multiple devices and airway adjuncts available to help the laryngoscopist obtain and secure the difficult airway. Ultimately, the selection of an airway adjunct for airway management is based on familiarity and skill with the device, as well as (1) the need for airway control; (2) the ease of laryngoscopy; (3) the ability to use supralaryngeal ventilation; (4) aspiration risk; and (5) the patient’s tolerance for apnea.