Inadequate Airway, Breathing and Circulation in the Trauma Patient (Part 1)

BOX 34—1 Inadequate Airway, Breathing and Circulation in theTrauma Patient: Manifestations and Immediate Interventions Airway I Signs and symptoms: No signs of breathing; no air heard or felt at nose and mouth Presence of foreign bodies in airway Abnormal chest movements or breathing effort limited to abdominal breathing Partial obstruction: nasal flaring; abnormal sounds, such as stridor, hoarseness, snoring, gurgling Conscious patient: difficulty or inability to speak, or raspy or hoarse voice quality I Potential immediate interventions: Open ain/vay (e.g., jaw-thrust maneuver); oro- or nasopha- ryngeal airway Suction airway Assess for/remove foreign bodies