Don’t Choke! Managing Upper Airway Crises Like a Pro

Upper airway respiratory emergencies are some of the most intimidating cases that veterinary practitioners treat. The critical need for patent airway establishment and oxygen delivery, the very apparent distress these patients are in, and the need to move quickly through treatment contribute to stressors on the team. Complicating factors include limited ability to perform initial diagnostics safely, skilled surgical accessibility, and costs of care. Learn how a criticalist approaches these cases when time is of the essence, finances are a factor, and a skilled surgeon is difficult or impossible to come by. You’ll learn when to intubate, how to manage tricky intubations, controlled and slash tracheostomy techniques, nasotracheal oxygen administration, and how to perform a palatopexy. We’ll also discuss in-hospital care of these patients, such as when and how to extubate, when to re-intubate, and tracheostomy tube care and management.