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  • Blockage of Upper Airway - MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

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    Blockage of the upper airway can occur when the passages become narrowed or blocked, making breathing difficult. Common causes include allergic reactions, infections, burns, and foreign objects stuck in the airway. Symptoms vary but may include difficulty breathing, coughing, and changes in consciousness. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may involve removing objects or inserting a breathing tube. Prompt treatment is important as an airway blockage can otherwise lead to serious complications or death.

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    Blockage of the upper airway can occur when the passages become narrowed or blocked, making breathing difficult. Common causes include allergic reactions, infections, burns, and foreign objects stuck in the airway. Symptoms vary but may include difficulty breathing, coughing, and changes in consciousness. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may involve removing objects or inserting a breathing tube. Prompt treatment is important as an airway blockage can otherwise lead to serious complications or death.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    26 views4 pages

    Blockage of Upper Airway - MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

    Uploaded by

    GilbertLiem
    Blockage of the upper airway can occur when the passages become narrowed or blocked, making breathing difficult. Common causes include allergic reactions, infections, burns, and foreign objects stuck in the airway. Symptoms vary but may include difficulty breathing, coughing, and changes in consciousness. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may involve removing objects or inserting a breathing tube. Prompt treatment is important as an airway blockage can otherwise lead to serious complications or death.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 4

    8/7/2016

    Blockageofupperairway:MedlinePlusMedicalEncyclopedia

    NationalInstitutesofHealth/ U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine

    HomeMedicalEncyclopediaBlockageofupperairway

    URLofthispage://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000067.htm

    Blockageofupperairway
    Blockageoftheupperairwayoccurswhentheupperbreathingpassagesbecomenarrowedorblocked,
    makingithardtobreathe.Areasintheupperairwaythatcanbeaffectedarethewindpipe(trachea),voicebox
    (larynx)orthroat(pharynx).

    Causes
    Theairwaycanbecomenarrowedorblockedduetomanycauses,including:
    Allergicreactionsinwhichthetracheaorthroatswellclosed,includingallergicreactionstoabeesting,
    peanuts,antibiotics(suchaspenicillin),andbloodpressuremedicines(suchasACEinhibitors)
    Chemicalburnsandreactions
    Epiglottitis(infectionofthestructureseparatingthetracheafromtheesophagus)
    Fireorburnsfrombreathinginsmoke
    Foreignbodies,suchaspeanutsandotherbreathedinfoods,piecesofaballoon,buttons,coins,and
    smalltoys
    Infectionsoftheupperairwayarea
    Injurytotheupperairwayarea
    Peritonsillarabscess(collectionofinfectedmaterialnearthetonsils)
    Retropharyngealabscess(collectionofinfectedmaterialinthebackoftheairway)
    Throatcancer
    Tracheomalacia(weaknessofthecartilagethatsupportsthetrachea)
    Vocalcordproblems

    Symptoms
    Symptomsvary,dependingonthecause.Butsomesymptomsarecommontoalltypesofairwayblockage.
    Theseinclude:

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    Blockageofupperairway:MedlinePlusMedicalEncyclopedia

    Agitationorfidgeting
    Bluishcolortotheskin(cyanosis)
    Changesinconsciousness
    Choking
    Confusion
    Difficultybreathing
    Gaspingforair
    Panic
    Unconsciousness
    Wheezing,crowing,whistling,orotherunusualbreathingnoisesindicatingbreathingdifficulty

    ExamsandTests
    Thehealthcareproviderwilldoaphysicalexamination,whichmayshow:
    Decreasedbreathsoundsinthelungs
    Rapid,shallow,orslowedbreathing
    Testsareusuallynotnecessary,butmayinclude:
    Bronchoscopy
    Laryngoscopy
    Xrays

    Treatment
    Treatmentdependsonthecauseoftheblockage.
    Objectsstuckintheairwaymayberemovedwithspecialinstruments.
    Atubemaybeinsertedintotheairway(endotrachealtube)tohelpwithbreathing.
    Sometimesanopeningismadethroughtheneckintotheairway(tracheostomyorcricothyrotomy).
    Iftheobstructionisduetoaforeignbody,suchasapieceoffoodthathasbeenbreathedin,doingabdominal
    thrustscansavetheperson'slife.

    Outlook(Prognosis)
    Prompttreatmentisoftensuccessful.Buttheconditionisdangerousandmaybefatal,evenwhentreated.
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    PossibleComplications
    Iftheobstructionisnotrelieved,itcancause:
    Braindamage
    Breathingfailure
    Death

    WhentoContactaMedicalProfessional
    Airwayobstructionisoftenanemergency.Call911orthelocalemergencynumberformedicalhelp.Follow
    instructionsonhowtohelpkeepthepersonbreathinguntilhelparrives.

    Prevention
    Preventiondependsonthecauseoftheupperairwayobstruction.
    Thefollowingmethodsmayhelppreventanobstruction:
    Eatslowlyandchewfoodcompletely.
    Donotdrinktoomuchalcoholbeforeorwhileeating.
    Keepsmallobjectsawayfromyoungchildren.
    Makesuredenturesfitproperly.
    Learnhowtoclearaforeignbodyfromtheairwayusingamethodsuchasabdominalthrusts.

    AlternativeNames
    Airwayobstructionacuteupper

    References
    CukorJ,MannoM.Pediatricrespiratoryemergencies:upperairwayobstructionandinfections.In:MarxJ,ed.
    Rosen'sEmergencyMedicine:ConceptsandClinicalPractice.8thed.Philadelphia,PA:ElsevierMosby
    2013:chap168.
    ReardonRF,MasonPE,ClintonJE.Basicairwaymanagementanddecisionmaking.In:RobertsJR,ed.
    Roberts&Hedges'ClinicalProceduresinEmergencyMedicine.6thed.Philadelphia,PA:ElsevierSaunders
    2014:chap3.
    ThomasSH,GoodloeJM.Foreignbodies.In:MarxJ,ed.Rosen'sEmergencyMedicine:Conceptsand
    ClinicalPractice.8thed.Philadelphia,PA:ElsevierMosby2013:chap60.
    https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000067.htm#

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    UpdateDate7/6/2015
    Updatedby:JacobL.Heller,MD,MHA,EmergencyMedicine,VirginiaMasonMedicalCenter,Seattle,WA.
    AlsoreviewedbyDavidZieve,MD,MHA,IslaOgilvie,PhD,andtheA.D.A.M.Editorialteam.

    A.D.A.M.,Inc.isaccreditedbyURAC,alsoknownastheAmericanAccreditationHealthCareCommission(www.urac.org).
    URAC'saccreditationprogramisanindependentaudittoverifythatA.D.A.M.followsrigorousstandardsofqualityand
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    theprinciplesoftheHealthontheNetFoundation(www.hon.ch).

    Theinformationprovidedhereinshouldnotbeusedduringanymedicalemergencyorforthediagnosisortreatmentofanymedicalcondition.A
    licensedphysicianshouldbeconsultedfordiagnosisandtreatmentofanyandallmedicalconditions.Call911forallmedicalemergencies.Links
    toothersitesareprovidedforinformationonlytheydonotconstituteendorsementsofthoseothersites.Copyright19972016,A.D.A.M.,Inc.
    DuplicationforcommercialusemustbeauthorizedinwritingbyADAMHealthSolutions.

    U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine 8600RockvillePike,Bethesda,MD20894
    U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices NationalInstitutesofHealth
    Pagelastupdated:01August2016

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