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Applying oxygen is one of the first steps in treating any crashing child!!!

Airway Emergencies

  • Foreign body (FB)
    • Patient presentation
      • Stridor
      • Choking episode
    • Testing
      • CXR
        • May directly show foreign body
        • May show secondary effects of a foreign body
          • Hyperinflated/collapsed lobes of the lung
    • Patient needs bronchoscopy if suspicion is high
  • Peritonsillar abscess
    • Visible in the pharynx
  • Bacterial tracheitis
    • HIDDEN IN the airway
  • Epiglottitis
    • HIDDEN ABOVE the airway
  • Retropharyngeal abscess
    • HIDDEN BEHIND behind the airway
  • Common presentations of airway emergencies
    • Voice changes
    • Drooling
    • Stiff neck
  • Testing
    • Most are seen on neck X-Ray
    • Peritonsillar abscess is clinical diagnosis
  • Treatment
    • Manage the airway
    • IV Antibiotics
    • Peritonsillar abscess needs drainage

Breathing Emergencies

  • Bronchiolitis = Badly breathing booger babies
    • Upper respiratory infection caused by virus
    • Signs of severe illness requiring admission
      • Grunting
      • Nasal flaring
      • Retractions
      • Hypoxemia
      • Unable to tolerate PO
    • Treatment
      • Deep suctioning
      • Can consider albuterol trial
      • Oxygen supplementation as needed
    • Generally avoid
      • Chest X-rays
      • Steroids
      • Antibiotics
  • Asthma
    • Treatment
      • First line
        • Albuterol/ipratropium
        • Steroids
      • Additional options as needed
        • Magnesium
        • Ketamine
        • IV epinepherine
  • Croup
    • Presentation
      • Barky cough
      • Stridor
    • Treatment
      • Steroids
      • Consider racemic epinephrine
  • Pneumonia
    • Diagnosed by x-ray
    • Treat with antibiotics
  • Cystic fibrosis
    • Albuterol/ipratropium
    • Nebulized saline
    • Antibiotics

Additional Reading