If airway compromise occurs in suspected basilar skull fracture, what is recommended?

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Multiple Choice

If airway compromise occurs in suspected basilar skull fracture, what is recommended?

When airway is compromised with a suspected basilar skull fracture, the priority is to protect oxygenation and ventilation now and arrange a definitive airway during transport. Nasal routes are avoided because a nasopharyngeal airway can traverse a fracture line and enter the cranial cavity, risking intracranial injury. Since the airway is at risk, do not delay care for imaging; secure the airway promptly (typically via an orotracheal route with rapid sequence intubation if possible) and have a plan for definitive airway during transport. A cricothyrotomy is reserved for when noninvasive methods fail or cannot be performed, rather than as the first step.

When airway is compromised with a suspected basilar skull fracture, the priority is to protect oxygenation and ventilation now and arrange a definitive airway during transport. Nasal routes are avoided because a nasopharyngeal airway can traverse a fracture line and enter the cranial cavity, risking intracranial injury. Since the airway is at risk, do not delay care for imaging; secure the airway promptly (typically via an orotracheal route with rapid sequence intubation if possible) and have a plan for definitive airway during transport. A cricothyrotomy is reserved for when noninvasive methods fail or cannot be performed, rather than as the first step.

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