Airway management in cervical spine injury

Naola Austin, Vijay Krishnamoorthy, and Arman Dagal

Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2014 Jan-Mar; 4(1): 50–56.

Overall, there is no one perfect way to manage the airway in patients with potential cervical spine injury. Providers must use their judgment and weigh various risks like spinal cord injury, aspiration, and hypoxia in each patient and  have the most experienced provider available to safely secure the airway. An airway management and anesthetic plan must be designed based on the patient, surgeon, situation urgency, and individual provider's level of expertise. 

see PMC text

Pharyngeal Function and Breathing Pattern during Partial Neuromuscular Block in the Elderly: Effects on Airway Protection

Cedborg, Anna I. Hårdemark M.D.; Sundman, Eva M.D., Ph.D.; Bodén, Katarina M.D., Ph.D.; Hedström, Hanne Witt M.D., Ph.D.; Kuylenstierna, Richard M.D., Ph.D.; Ekberg, Olle M.D., Ph.D.; Eriksson, Lars I. M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.A.

 

Anesthesiology:

February 2014 - Volume 120 - Issue 2 - p 312–325

Incidence of swallowing dysfunction increased more than double during partial neuromuscular block in healthy elderly individuals without impairment of coordination between swallowing and breathing. Reduced upper esophageal sphincter tone did not recover even at the train-of-four ratio of 0.9.