Question

You respond to a 68 year old man who was involved in a motor vehicle collision. He is unresponsive, and as you approach you notice he is not breathing. He was unrestrained and has massive facial injuries. When you check his airway, it is obstructed. Which of the following is NOT likely to cause an upper airway obstruction in a patient with facial trauma?

A. Heavy bleeding
B. Loosened teeth or dentures
C. Soft-tissue swelling
D. Inflamed tonsils

Answer 1

In the context of a motor vehicle collision with facial trauma, inflamed tonsils are not a likely cause of upper airway obstruction; rather, bleeding, loose teeth or dentures, or soft-tissue swelling would be probable causes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a 68-year-old man who was involved in a motor vehicle collision and has an obstructed airway due to massive facial injuries, several things could be the cause. Heavy bleeding, loosened teeth or dentures, and soft-tissue swelling are all possible complications of facial trauma that could lead to upper airway obstruction. However, inflamed tonsils would not be likely due to the acute, traumatic mechanism of injury. Inflamed tonsils are generally a result of infection or inflammation, not trauma.