Lecture=2nd . Subject= Critical care nursing.

Topic= life threatening emergencies and Air way emergencies.

Dated=31.3.2020.
Life-threatening condition.
Life-threatening condition means a condition that if left untreated more likely
than not will result in death and for which the recommended medical
treatments carry a probable chance of impairing the health of the individual or
a risk of terminating the life of the individual.
The following are the various life-threatening conditions and warning signs of a
medical emergency
Bleeding that will not stop.
Breathing problems (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath)
Chest pain
Choking
Coughing up or vomiting blood
Fainting or loss of consciousness
Head or spine injury
Severe or persistent vomiting
Sudden injury due to a motor vehicle accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near
drowning, deep or large wound, or other injuries
Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
Sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision
Swallowing a poisonous substance
Severe abdominal pain or pressure

Air way emergencies.

Air way emergencies typically involve any or all of the following;
Difficult ventilation, difficult intubation or difficult tracheostomy. Regardless of
the cause of the emergency, the goal is to secure the air way and minimize the
likelihood of hypoxemia, regurgitation, and aspiration.
Air way emergencies are very life threatening. Some general measures should
be taken promptly to save life and prevent the patient from complications.
First, Open the Airway
The most common cause of airway obstruction is the collapse of tongue and
soft tissue at the back of the throat over the larynx. Tilting the head and pulling
the jaw upward lifts this tissue off the larynx and opens the airway.
Tilting the head and pulling the jaw upward lifts this tissue off the larynx and
opens the airway.
A common cause of airway obstruction is the collapse of tongue and soft tissue
at the back of the throat over the larynx. Tilting the head and pulling the jaw
upward lifts this tissue off the larynx and opens the airway.
Use the head tilt, chin lift maneuver or the triple airway maneuver. Even if
you’re using cervical spine precautions (and keeping the head in a neutral
position with the neck) you should still pull the jaw upward. These maneuvers
lift the tongue, epiglottis and soft tissue upward and off the glottic opening.
Insert Oral or Nasal Airway
Insert nasal or an oral airway to treat airway obstruction. Nasal airways are
better tolerated by semi-conscious patients. Oral airways are often used in
unconscious patients to avoid the potential risk of nose bleed.
Always insert a nasal airway parallel to the floor of the nose.
The insertion of nasal or oral air way are mostly done in hospital setting.

Always call for help and try to ventilate the patient manually.
Some further precautions should also be strictly follow such as position of the
patient, suctioning of air way, oxygen therapy, air way clearances etc.