Severe Airway Obstruction 101: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Severe airway obstruction happens when the airway is blocked, making it difficult for a person to breathe properly. Common signs include difficulty breathing, gasping for air, and struggling to speak or cough.

The person may hold their throat, appear anxious or panicked, and their skin might turn bluish (cyanosis) due to lack of oxygen. If the blockage isn’t cleared, they could lose consciousness, making it crucial to get immediate medical help.

Did you know an average human breathes 6 liters of air per minute to survive?

But what if we stop breathing?

Our vital organs will become deprived of oxygen, and the consequences could be fatal. 

Obstruction of the airways is one of the causes you may stop breathing. This hindrance to normal airflow could affect your inhalation and exhalation.

It occurs due to airway blockage and is very harmful. To get immediate treatment, first, you should be aware of the sure signs of severe airway obstruction. 

Let’s discover these signs, how airway obstruction happens, and the treatment options. 

If your child has trouble breathing due to an airway obstruction, we offer a safe and effective treatment. Our team of kids’ dentists and specialists are experts in fixing breathing problems.

What is Airways Obstruction?

Airway obstruction hinders normal respiratory function and stops air from entering your lungs and coming out. This occurs because of the blockage in any part of the respiratory system. 

Airway obstruction can sometimes be harmless, but it can be life-threatening in other cases. Depending on the hindrance to normal respiratory function, the obstruction can be complete or partial.

Complete obstruction of the airway is more dangerous, even fatal, and requires immediate medical attention. In the case of partial obstruction, you can still somehow breathe. 

4 Types of Airways Obstruction

Airway obstruction can be of the following different types:

Upper Airways Obstruction

If the obstruction occurs in the upper respiratory tract, it is an upper airway obstruction. Obstruction can occur when obstruction occurs in your nostrils, mouth, pharynx, and larynx. 

Lower Airways Obstruction

In contrast, if obstruction occurs from the larynx to the lung passages, this is lower airway obstruction. 

Other than this, airway obstruction can also be:

Acute Obstruction

Acute obstruction occurs when there is immediate blockage of normal respiratory function. 

Chronic Obstruction

Chronic obstruction refers to an obstruction that lasts for a longer time and takes time to develop.

Symptoms of Airway Obstruction

Airways obstruction may be a medical emergency requiring emergency treatment. But for this, you need to be aware of the warning signs. Some of the signs or respiratory hindrances showing that you need medical care include:

A person going through airway obstruction may exhibit all or a few of these symptoms. 

Causes

Some common causes of airway obstruction are as follows:

Any of these problems can result in airway obstruction, which can be mild or severe. Signs of severe airway obstruction are more concerning. 

Risk Factors

Some of the factors that increase one’s risk of suffering from airway obstruction are:

These risk factors increase the chances of developing airway obstruction.

How to Diagnose Airway Obstruction

Before we talk about the treatment of airway obstruction, let’s look at how to diagnose airway obstruction:

i. X-Ray

Initially, basic scans like X-rays are enough to diagnose the problem. If the cause is unclear, it’s time for advanced testing. 

II. Spirometry

Spirometry is a standard procedure to check respiratory activity, a basic pulmonary function test. During spirometry, your technician monitors how much air you inhale and exhale during each breathing cycle which reflects your lung’s performance. 

III. Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a standard procedure physicians use to diagnose airway obstruction. During the procedure, your physician inserts a small device called a bronchoscope through our respiratory part to check the blockage. 

IV. Laryngoscopy

Other than this, your physician can also go for a laryngoscopy to visualize your larynx and identify the root cause of the problem. A device known as a laryngoscope is used during the procedure.

V. CT Scan

A more advanced method for diagnosis of an airway obstruction is a CT scan. The scan targets the head, neck, and chest area to identify the source of obstruction.

Treatment for Airways Obstruction

The treatment for the condition depends on the severity of the condition as well as the cause. Let’s find out about some standard treatment options for airway obstruction.

1- Remove Choking Object

If the cause of airway obstruction is any foreign object stuck in your respiratory path, immediately remove it. Special instruments make it easy to remove the objects that are causing hindrance.

2- Epinephrine

If the cause of airway obstruction is some allergy, give the person epinephrine. This will help to control the allergic reaction and will improve breathing. 

3- CRP (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

CPR is an effective treatment strategy for airway obstruction. The technique uses chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing to resume regular breathing activity. 

CPR is a lifesaving emergency technique that helps improve oxygen supply to the vital organs.

4- Endotracheal Intubation 

Endotracheal intubation is another emergency procedure in which a tube keeps the trachea open. This ensures air supply to the lungs to support breathing when a person cannot breathe.

5- Cricothyrotomy

Another treatment option in case of severe airway obstruction is cricothyrotomy. The process involves an incision through a membrane in the neck to place a tube to supply oxygen to the lung.

Additional Tips to Keep Your Airways Safe from Obstruction

Airway obstruction can be quite a challenging situation to deal with and can even be fatal. Here are the tips to minimize your chances of airway obstruction.