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Resident Manual of Trauma to the Face, Head, and Neck
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Chapter 10: Foreign Bodies and Caustic
Ingestion
Whitney A. Pafford, MD
I. Anatomy
A. Upper Airway
Foreign body aspiration and caustic ingestion can be life-threatening
emergencies. Rapid recognition, work-up, and treatment reduce the risk
of complications and associated morbidity and mortality. Given the
importance of endoscopy in these patients, a general understanding of
the upper aerodigestive anatomy is critical in their management.
y
y
Nares.
y
y
Nasopharynx.
y
y
Oral cavity.
y
y
Oropharynx.
y
y
Larynx.
B. Lower Airway
The trachea begins immediately inferior to the cricoid cartilage. It
bifurcates into the right and left mainstem bronchi (Figure 10.1).
Figure 10.1
Tracheobronchial anatomy.
Source: Myers and Carreau, Figure 67-1.