AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH CONTRACTIONS RESULTING FROM BURNS TO THE FACE AND NECK

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594512405069

• Palavras-chave: Anesthesiology; Complications; Traumas.

• Keywords: Anesthesiology; Complications; Traumas.

• Abstract:

  Introduction: Burns are tissue injuries resulting from thermal, chemical, electrical or radioactive trauma. Most burns occur in children between birth and the fourth year of life, a period of child development. Burn patients must follow the initial trauma management protocol, with assessment of airways, breathing, circulation, neurological disorders and body exposure. Initial management is not the only concern in these cases, as there are burn complications, such as functional injuries and contractures, not only after treatment, but also during care. This work is justified by the need to search the literature for the best techniques to access the airways of children with contractions resulting from facial burns and burns in the neck region. Goal: To carry out a review on airway management in children with contractions resulting from burns to the face and neck, searching for data in the literature between the years 2008-2023. Methodology: Literature review of original articles that report on airway management in burn patients, carried out in the period 2008-2023. The search was carried out in electronic databases: Google Scholar, Scielo, Virtual Health Library, PubMed and the Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. Results: Six articles were selected, cataloged and analyzed, based on the fusion of information collected in each article studied. Conclusions: Comprehensive patient assessment, including medical history and airway examination, are vital aspects for successful airway management in patients with neck burn contracture, as well as individualization of the anesthetic plan, considering the severity of the contracture and the experience of the anesthesiologist to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. The range of techniques discussed, from fiberoptic nasal intubation to infraorbital and mental nerve blocks, highlights the need for flexible and adaptable approaches. Therefore, the use of an innovative approach as part of the anesthetic strategy is not only efficient, but also safe, providing a valuable alternative in the context where traditional approaches could be more challenging and could put the patient's life at risk.