109k views
3 votes
What are the edentulous airway management considerations?

User Tempire
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

Edentulous airway management involves considering the effects of tooth loss on the airway and using procedures like endotracheal intubation to maintain an open airway.

Step-by-step explanation:

Edentulous airway management considerations involve the management of airways in patients who have lost all their teeth. When all teeth are missing, there may be changes in the anatomy of the airway, leading to potential difficulties in airway control during anesthesia.

In these cases, endotracheal intubation is often recommended as the safest procedure to maintain an open airway to the lungs and prevent the airway from being blocked by the tongue. This involves placing a tube into the trachea to ensure proper air passage.

It is important to carefully assess the patient's airway anatomy and consider alternative techniques or devices, such as laryngeal mask airways or video laryngoscopes, to ensure successful airway management in edentulous patients.

User Chris Whittle
by
8.1k points