Abstract:

Objective To explore the nursing strategy for respiratory tract of patients with severe craniofacial trauma in acute stage. Methods The clinical data of 151 patients with severe craniofacial trauma were collected, and the clinical manifestations, nursing measures and treatment outcomes were retrospectively analysed. Results Twenty-three patients received tracheotomy due to dyspnea and lower blood-oxygen saturation on admission. Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway insertion were performed for 128 patients, among whom 14 got through the acute stage, and another 71 underwent tracheotomy and intracranial operation due to disease deterioration. Tracheotomy was conducted in 43 patients due to the gradual decrease of blood oxygen saturation (lower than 93%). Conclusion Effective oropharyngeal airway insertion, intensive monitoring of disease condition and proper tracheotomy could decrease the incidence of hypoxemia in patients with severe craniofacial trauma in acute stage.

Key words: severe craniofacial trauma, oropharyngeal airway insertion, blood oxygen saturation, tracheotomy