Little help with laryngospasm?

SoCalRN · Oct 20, 2000

Originally posted by Miss Mollie:
ok, need a little help here: Pt is 62 yr old female post surgery in uncomp metabolic acidosis, extubated, 15 min later you hear stridor, then nothing upon auscultation of lungs. SaO2 is dropping, pt is agitated. What treatment is recommended? I have seen emergent trachs for this- recently I heard some Anesthesiologists talking about using sux and propofol etc... Now, I have this fun little case study and have no idea whats commonly done for a pt with severe laryngospasm. Can you help me out here?

Seems to me, that if a patient isn't moving any air, you need to establish an airway NOW. There are companies out there that make emergency cricothyrotomy kits, but in a hospital setting, why not just reintubate? If sux is to be utilized, then reintubation must be the reason for using it!

hollykate · Oct 20, 2000

Ok, I asked a PACU RN, She says, if you are sure it is laryngospasm and not just something else stuck in the throat (oral airway that was too small perhaps?) that you should do the chin tilt, jaw thrust, get a good positive seal with a facemask and bag bag bag the pt She says this usually opens up the pts in the PACU, otherwise then Sux, or propofol is the anesthesiologist likes it. She says she has never seen anyone cric'd for post anesthesia laryngospasm, though I guess it is possible.

Zee_RN, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2000

Only saw it once and we did as HollyKate stated.... bag, bag, bag, medicate (versed, ativan) .... reintubate. Went without a hitch.