ABSTRACT
The commonest causes of acute airway obstruction which are found above the larynx are maxillo-facial trauma, Ludwig’s angina, Quincy tonsillar abscess, tonsillar hyper-trophy, and neoplasm of the oropharynx or hypopharynx. The commonest causes of acute airway obstruction which are found at the level of the larynx are laryngeal fracture, acute epiglottitis and laryngeal oedema. The commonest causes of acute airway obstruction which are found below the larynx are subglottic stenosis, neck trauma and acute laryngeotracheobronchitis. A decreased conscious level will also prevent the patient from protecting their airway and may cause obstruction due to lax muscles and the absence of airway reflexes. The airway can also be maintained or augmented using adjuncts, such as an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway. A surgical cricothyroidotomy is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. This is because of the risk of damage to the cricoid cartilage, which is the only circumferential support to the paediatric trachea.
