Chandigarh, 20 January 2025: The Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) organized a one-day workshop titled “Airways in Trauma Emergency” to improve care for trauma victims requiring oxygen on arrival at hospitals.
The workshop saw participation from about 70 doctors representing institutions such as Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32), Patiala, Delhi, Rishikesh, Bathinda, and Srinagar.
Discussions focused on advanced techniques for managing airways in critical polytrauma cases, particularly when injuries to the head, neck, or cervical spine obstruct a patient’s windpipe.
Key procedures discussed included mask ventilation, fibre optic intubation, emergency front-of-neck access, intubation, and the use of supraglottic devices.
Intubation involves inserting a tube through the mouth or nose to maintain airflow, while emergency front-of-neck access directly opens the trachea via the neck, a critical intervention in cases of severe facial trauma.
Fibre optic intubation employs endoscopy to guide the tube into the airway with precision.
Dr. Pankaj Kundra from JIPMER, Puducherry, stated, “Providing an adequate oxygen supply during airway procedures is crucial for improving outcomes in trauma patients.”
The workshop underscored the significance of specialized airway management to address the challenges posed by critical trauma emergencies effectively.
