Airway obstruction
| Airway obstruction | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Pulmonology  |
Airway obstruction is a blockage of
Airway obstruction is a life-threatening condition and requires urgent attention, and assistance when it is needed.[1] The assistance to clear an upper airway obstruction would begin employing first-aid anti-choking techniques.
Upper airway obstruction
Causes of upper airway obstruction include
Lower airway obstruction
Lower airway obstruction is mainly caused by increased resistance in the bronchioles (usually from a decreased radius of the bronchioles) that reduces the amount of air inhaled in each breath and the oxygen that reaches the pulmonary arteries. It is different from airway restriction (which prevents air from diffusing into the pulmonary arteries because of some kind of blockage in the lungs). Diseases that cause lower airway obstruction are termed obstructive lung diseases.[3]
Lower airway obstruction can be measured using spirometry. A decreased FEV1/FVC ratio (versus the normal of about 80%) is indicative of airway obstruction, as the normal amount of air can no longer be exhaled in the first second of expiration. An airway restriction would not produce a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio, but would reduce the vital capacity. The ventilation is therefore affected leading to a ventilation-perfusion mismatch and hypoxia.
Consequences
Airway obstruction may cause
See also
References
- PMID 8200192. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ Respiratory Emergencies, section Acute Upper Airway Obstruction[permanent dead link]. From FP Essentials 368 Archived 2020-03-14 at the Wayback Machine. January 2010 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
- ^ "Airway Obstruction". The Lecturio Medical Concept Library. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
- S2CID 243394660.
- S2CID 218855570.