Which device is contraindicated in suspected basilar skull fracture due to risk of cranial penetration?

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Multiple Choice

Which device is contraindicated in suspected basilar skull fracture due to risk of cranial penetration?

In suspected basilar skull fracture, avoid any nasal airway because passing a device through the nose can travel into fracture lines at the skull base and potentially penetrate into the cranial cavity, causing brain injury or further damage. The oropharyngeal airway can be used in an unconscious patient who does not have a gag reflex, as it stays in the mouth and pharynx rather than the nasal passages. Endotracheal tubes and supraglottic devices are other airway options when needed, but they do not involve the nasal route and thus avoid the risk of cranial penetration through a skull-base fracture. The key point is that the nasal route presents a real danger in basilar skull fractures, so it’s contraindicated.

In suspected basilar skull fracture, avoid any nasal airway because passing a device through the nose can travel into fracture lines at the skull base and potentially penetrate into the cranial cavity, causing brain injury or further damage. The oropharyngeal airway can be used in an unconscious patient who does not have a gag reflex, as it stays in the mouth and pharynx rather than the nasal passages. Endotracheal tubes and supraglottic devices are other airway options when needed, but they do not involve the nasal route and thus avoid the risk of cranial penetration through a skull-base fracture. The key point is that the nasal route presents a real danger in basilar skull fractures, so it’s contraindicated.

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