Pre-hospital airway management in trauma

Knowledge of trauma is as old as mankind and survived a long way to reach new technologic developments. Being a multisystemic disease, trauma is an important social and financial problem especially in developing countries. Anesthesists possess important roles in the multisystemic management of trauma patients. In our country prehospital life support for trauma victims is primarily realized and arranged by the emergency help and rescue team 112 which belonged to the Ministry of Health. Several courses are arranged for the team especially about endotracheal intubation and resuscitation in the field. Acute major airway injuries require an early diagnosis and a prompt treatment to improve their outcomes. Typical injuries causing alterations in oxygenation or ventilation are head, spinal cord and thoracic traumas. The use of cuffed tracheal tube remains the definitive ‘gold standard’ for airway control. Tracheal tube placement requires experience and high degree of skill. The laryngeal mask airway, intubating laryngeal mask airway and oesophageal-tracheal combitube are also indicated in maintaining control of airway during emergency trauma patients in the field. A probable occurence of cervical spine fracture must be assumed while maintaining airway patency. On-site airway aspiration, and monitoring of carbon dioxide must be realized in trauma victims.

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