Ep. 1: The Recovery position: basic airway management for U.K. paramedics

Описание: Let go back and start at the basics of airway management…

The recovery position.

Indications:
The spontaneously breathing patient who is unconscious but cannot tolerate an airway adjunct.

Contraindications
Spinal injury
Patients who need ventilating & advanced airway adjuncts

Advantages
Quick & easy to perform
One person can perform this manoeuvre
No equipment needed
Positioning of the patient will allow postural drainage of vomit or secretions

Disadvantages
Does not fully protect the airway
Difficult to assess breathing
Difficult to conduct other assessments & observations

Procedure

Step 1:
Don appropriate PPE
Kneel by the side of the patient

Step 2
Lay the legs flat
Check for sharp objects

This is to avoid any soft tissue injury’s

Step 3:
Place arm closet to you at a right angle
With the patients palm facing up

This will keep the arm clear of the torso once rolled.

Step 4:
Place the patients other hand onto cheek
Hold in place

This will provide support to the head during the roll

Step 5:
Lift the leg furthest from you
Keeping the foot on the ground

This will act as a lever when you roll the patient

Step 6:
Pull the leg towards you
While holding the head

Step 7:
Move the leg into a right angle
Adjust the head to open the airway

This will prevent the patient becoming prone

Some examples where this may be useful are
Post-ictal
Intoxication
Awaiting the arrival of emergency services

And best of all this skill can be performed by any grade of the clinician.