Management of Airway in Maxillofacial Trauma

Abstract

Summary: The maxillofacial trauma is in general a multiple-organ trauma situation that implies first
the establishment or recovery of a secure airway to the patient even the fact that most
professionals could believe that maxilofacial lesions are the first treatment priority. The hypoxia
produces progressive tissue injury and tissue death. Main affected organ by hypoxia is the brain in
which ischemia threshold is about four minutes. This mean very few time to help a person to survive
an airway obstruction. The objective of this review is to provide a better knowledge to the
different health professionals in the management of the airway after maxillofacial trauma. The
reestablishment of the airway until patient’s entrance to hospital urgencies is a key issue and
integrates the a common knowledge and rapid attention of diverse medical specialties
(prehospitalary, nursery, physician) and dentists. Key words: Airway management. Maxillofacial
trauma. Airway undertaken.