Symptoms of laryngospasm

Many people don't know much about laryngeal spasm. Laryngospasm refers to the reflex spasm and contraction of the laryngeal muscles, which will cause the vocal cords to adduct and partially or completely close. This often causes the patient to experience breathing difficulties and even airway obstruction, which is extremely harmful. When this happens, emergency measures must be taken to deal with it and emergency rescue must be carried out.

Symptoms of laryngospasm

Mild cases of laryngeal spasm may manifest as mild inspiratory wheezing, while severe cases may cause complete upper airway obstruction. Although the former is not a fatal attack, it can quickly develop into the latter if not handled properly. Complete upper airway obstruction is manifested by the disappearance of inspiratory stridor. It is particularly important that this "silent" obstruction should not be mistaken for clinical improvement.

Causes

l. Irritation to the throat caused by intra-tracheal operations, suctioning of sputum under light anesthesia, placement of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airways, endotracheal intubation or extubation. 2. It is caused by stimulation from blood, secretions in the airway, vomiting, reflux of gastric contents, etc. There is an old saying: Don’t talk while eating and don’t talk while sleeping. Laughing and talking while eating can easily cause food and soup to enter the airway by mistake, causing choking and coughing, or even laryngeal spasm, which can cause the patient's glottis to be closed, making it impossible to breathe in or out, unable to speak, and on the verge of suffocation. At this critical moment, if you can press the Tiantu point in time, you can relieve laryngeal spasm and save the patient from danger. The Tu point is located 2 inches below the Adam's apple, right in the center of the depression above the sternum.

Emergency treatment

l. Inhale pressurized pure oxygen through a mask. 2. Gently lifting the jaw can relieve mild laryngeal spasm. 3. Immediately stop all stimulation and surgical procedures. 4. Ask others for help immediately. 5. Deepening anesthesia can relieve mild and moderate laryngeal spasm. The commonly used method is. Administer 20% of the induction dose intravenously or increase the concentration of inhaled anesthetic. 6. Expose and clear throat secretions to keep the airway open. 7. For severe laryngeal spasm, cricothyroid membrane puncture with a needle of size 16 or larger can be used to provide oxygen or high-frequency ventilation in an emergency. 8. For severe laryngeal spasm, succinylcholine 1.0-1.5 mg/kg can be used, intravenously injected or 4.0 mg/kg intramuscularly injected, followed by tracheal intubation.