Peds/Trauma

Pediatric trauma / shock airway

Before / During / After / Pitfalls

Before

• Use length-based weight/color zone, blood/resuscitation, C-spine strategy, and peds equipment.
• Assign roles: airway, BVM, meds, monitor, blood, parent/team communication.
• Stage one smaller/larger tube and peds suction/BVM.

During

• Avoid hypoxia/hypotension; gentle bagging and rapid confirmation.
• Use appropriate meds/doses and equipment size.
• Reassess after every move; tube dislodgement is common.

After

• Secure tube, peds vent settings, shock resuscitation, and trauma imaging/OR plan.
• Recheck depth after transport.
• Document length-based estimate and actual tube size/depth.

Pitfalls

• Adult equipment assumptions.
• Tube migration with movement.
• Airway focus while shock resuscitation stalls.