Head and neck injuries are very common during emergency calls, particularly following a vehicle crash, fall or another trauma that affects the upper portion of a patient’s body. Those who suffer such injuries, beyond the potential for long-term skeletal, muscular or neurological issues, also carry a high risk for a range of airway issues or crises. If a responder is not able to resolve these issues promptly, the consequences can be fatal.

As an EMS professional, you rely on your equipment. Imagine for a moment what it was like just 50 years ago, when emergency transport meant simply placing a patient in the back of a makeshift ambulance (typically a station wagon) and driving as fast as you could to a hospital. Things have certainly improved not only for our patients but for providers as well.

Aspiration pneumonia has a mortality rate of 5% to15%, and that rises to as much as 22.7% in populations with emphysema. The secretions patients aspirate are often contaminated with pathogens from the oral cavity, increasing the rate of morbidity and necessitating additional interventions, and potentially long hospital stays. Prompt intervention is the key to preventing serious complications associated with aspiration pneumonia. Portable emergency suction can help prevent aspiration pneumonia, as well as its attendant complications.

When an emergency responder arrives at an emergency scene where one or more patients have suffered physical trauma, unspoken in the goals during the moment is to not only provide effective treatment, but to avoid causing any additional trauma.

Sooner or later, every first responder encounters a difficult airway. Training for these scenarios is critical for improving patient care and reducing first responder frustration and burnout. There’s no substitute for lived experience, critical feedback from experienced providers, and drills that mimic real-world situations. And keeping in mind these five tips can help you more effectively treat difficult airways.

The patient has suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, and his blood pressure is dangerously low. You’ve covered the entry wound to prevent a sucking wound, but the patient is exhaling copious bloody froth. You successfully intubate the patient and are bagging, with good chest rise, but the bloody froth continues to interfere with air exchange. It’s time to suction the tube. 

Every patient is unique, and this means expert airway management demands a critical, creative, adaptive approach. However, first responders should follow established protocols and guidelines to get the best results. A simple algorithm can help guide decision-making in airway management while still allowing room for flexible problem-solving. Follow these guidelines to speed up treatment and reduce errors if you encounter a difficult airway:

Often when we think of the airway, we consider the entire respiratory system, forgetting that the upper and lower airway structures have different anatomies and, thus, are affected by different respiratory issues.

Those of us in the medical profession know how important quality equipment is to overall patient care. We are only as good as our equipment; if it doesn't function well, it's hard for us to do our best. 

Endotracheal suctioning can reduce morbidity and mortality. But like all medical procedures, it carries a risk of complications, particularly when treating vulnerable patients or in the hands of inexperienced providers.