Airway management in trauma

What it is

Airway is the A of the primary survey, and it is never airway alone: it is airway with c-spine protection. The primary survey runs airway with c-spine protection, breathing and ventilation, circulation with haemorrhage control, disability and neuro status, and exposure and environmental control.

Two words that are used for each other are separated here. Ventilation is the process by which air is exchanged between the lungs and the air. Oxygenation is the process by which oxygen diffuses from inspired air into blood.

How it is diagnosed

The priorities when assessing the airway are two: is the airway patent or not, and is it in danger of being not patent. The airway is assessed by talking to the patient, and in trauma airway blockage and cervical spine injuries are checked by whether the patient is talking to you.