management of upper airway obstruction
Last reviewed 01/2018
Investigations:
- general - based on health of patient
- specific - designed to confirm or deny a probable cause of the obstruction. They should be based on the history, for example, a baby who was born prematurely and now has developed stridor is likely to have subglottic stenosis and this can be confirmed with a lateral neck X-ray
Treatment depends on both the cause of the obstruction and it's severity. A severe upper airway obstruction requires immediate support by oxygen, endotracheal intubation, cricothyroidotomy or even tracheostomy.