What should you do if the jaw-thrust maneuver is unsuccessful in opening a trauma patient's airway?

When the jaw-thrust maneuver is unsuccessful in securing an airway for a trauma patient, shifting to a head tilt-chin lift maneuver is a suitable alternative. This method involves tilting the patient's head back while lifting the chin forward. It can help in cases where the jaw-thrust maneuver fails due to factors like maxillofacial trauma or obstruction that the jaw-thrust cannot overcome.

The head tilt-chin lift maneuver is considered effective for non-trauma patients since it opens the airway by moving the tongue away from the back of the throat, which is particularly helpful in cases of airway obstruction caused by the tongue itself. However, caution must be exercised in trauma cases, as certain neck injuries could be exacerbated by flexing the neck. Nonetheless, if the jaw-thrust isn’t working, using the head tilt-chin lift provides an alternative method to establish an airway, given that it's performed correctly and no spinal injury is suspected.

This approach ensures that every avenue is explored to maintain the airway in emergencies, particularly when a patient's life may depend on it.