Ther 1 - Airway Management

Front 1

What is an airway obstruction?

Back 1

-

Front 2

What are signs of adequate air exchange?

Back 2

Effective Cough

Front 3

What are signs of poor air exchange?

Back 3

-Ineffective cough
-Stridor
-Cyanosis
-Gagging or choking
-Dysphonia

Front 4

What is inadequate ventilation?

Back 4

Compromised O2 intake and CO2 removal - characterized by hypoxia and hypercarbia.

Front 5

What causes inadequate ventilation?

Back 5

Reduction of breathing rate or tidal volume.

Front 6

How is the airway assessed?

Back 6

In the initial assessment.

Is the airway patent?
Is breathing adequate?
Look listen and feel.
If patient is not breathing.
-Open the airway
-Assist ventilations as required.
-Provide oxygen therapy prn

Front 7

What are some elements of history taking that can help get a picture of the patients condition?

Back 7

-Onset
-Symptom development
-Associated symptoms
-Past medical history
-Recent history
-Does anything provide relief?

Front 8

What are some things to inspect with breathing problems?

Back 8

-Skin color
-Patient's posture
-Dyspnea
-Modified forms of respiration
-Rate
-Pattern
-Mentation

Front 9

What is sighing?

Back 9

Slow deep involuntary inspiration and expiration. Re-expands the alveoli.

Front 10

What is grunting?

Back 10

Forceful expiration against a partially closed glottis. Usually an indication of respiratory distress.

Front 11

What is tachypnea?

Back 11

Very rapid shallow breathing.

Front 12

What is kussmaul?

Back 12

Rapid deep respirations - to blow off CO2

Front 13

What is Cheyne-stokes?

Back 13

Waxing and waning. Brief period of apnea in between.

Front 14

What is Biot's

Back 14

Irregular breathing.

Front 15

What is bradypnea?

Back 15

Slow breathing.

Front 16

How do we auscultate for airway sounds?

Back 16

Listen at the mouth and nose for adequate air movement.

Listen with a stethoscope for normal or abnormal or absence of breath.

-Right and Left apices.
-Right and Left bases
-Right and Left back / midaxilliary

Front 17

What does snoring signify?

Back 17

Partial airway obstruction.

Front 18

What does gurgling signify?

Back 18

Accumulation of fluid in the airway.

Front 19

What does stridor signify?

Back 19

Associated with laryngeal edema or constriction.

Front 20

What is wheezing associated with?

Back 20

Associated with bronchiolar constriction.

Front 21

What are crackles and what are they associated with?

Back 21

Fine bubbling noises heard on inspiration. Associated with fluid in the smaller bronchioles.

Front 22

What are Ronchi and what are they associated with?

Back 22

Coarse rattling noise heard on inspiration. Associated with inflammation,mucous or fluid in the bronchioles.

Front 23

What is compliance?

Back 23

Refers to the stiffness or flexibility of lungs.
-Good, airflow meets minimal resistance
-Bad, ventilation is harder to achieve, occurs in diseased lungs, chest wall injuries or tension pnuemothorax.

Front 24

What is cricoid pressure?

Back 24

Pressure applied to the cricod cartlidge to close the esophagus and prevent aspiration into the lungs.

Front 25

What are some advantages of cricoid pressure?

Back 25

-It is noninvasive
-It protects the patient from aspiration as long as pressure is maintained.

Front 26

What are some disadvantages of cricoid pressure?

Back 26

-May lead to extreme emesis if pressure is
maintained.

Front 27

What are complications of Cricoid pressure?

Back 27

-Laryngeal trauma*
-Esophageal rupture*
-Obstruction of the trachea in small children Obstruction of the trachea in small children

Front 28

What happens if a person aspirates stomach contents into the lungs?

Back 28

-Pulmonary edema
-destruction of the alveoli
The condition seriously impairs gas exchange and leads to hypoxia and hypercarbia.

Front 29

What is aspiration and what are some basic ways in which this can be prevented?

Back 29

Aspiration is the accumulation of fluids and vomitus in the upper airway.

It can be prevented with these basic treatments.
-Cricoid pressure
-Suctioning
-Positioning of the patient

Front 30

What is aspiration and what are some basic ways in which this can be prevented?

Back 30

Aspiration is the accumulation of fluids and vomitus in the upper airway.

It can be prevented with these basic treatments.
-Cricoid pressure
-Suctioning
-Positioning of the patient

Front 31

What is proper suctioning technique?

Back 31

-

Front 32

What is a whistle tip suction catheter?

Back 32

It is a small, easy-to-use flexible tube, long
enough to extend into the lower respiratory tract

Front 33

What is proper suctioning technique?

Back 33

-

Front 34

What are some disadvantages of the whistle tip?

Back 34

-It is ineffective in removing large volumes of secretions
rapidly.
-It is often unable to retrieve even smaller food particles.

Front 35

What is a whistle tip suction catheter?

Back 35

It is a small, easy-to-use flexible tube, long
enough to extend into the lower respiratory tract

Front 36

What are some disadvantages of the Tonsil-tip suction catheter?

Back 36

-Its use is limited to suctioning of the upper airway.
-Vigorous insertion can cause lacerations or other
injuries.injuries.

Front 37

What are some disadvantages of the whistle tip?

Back 37

-It is ineffective in removing large volumes of secretions
rapidly.
-It is often unable to retrieve even smaller food particles.

Front 38

What are some disadvantages of the Tonsil-tip suction catheter?

Back 38

-Its use is limited to suctioning of the upper airway.
-Vigorous insertion can cause lacerations or other
injuries.injuries.

Front 39

What are some precautions with the use of suction?

Back 39

-Restricted to 15 seconds or less.

Front 40

What are some hazards that can be encountered with suctioning?

Back 40

Serious cardiac dysrhythmias can occur secondary to hypoxia

Front 41

What are advantages of the OPA?

Back 41

-It can be inserted easily and quickly.

Front 42

What are some disadvantages of the OPA?

Back 42

-It does not isolate the trachea.

Front 43

What are the advantages of the NPA?

Back 43

-Quickly and easily to insert.

Front 44

What are some disadvantages of the NPA?

Back 44

-It is smaller than the OPA.

Front 45

What are some contraindications of the NPA?

Back 45

Use of the nasopharyngeal airway should
be avoided if:
-Patients have nasal obstructions
-Patients are prone to nosebleeds
-Indications of nasal injury
-Presence of facial fractures
-Possible skull fractures

Front 46

What are other airway types?

Back 46

-Esophageal CombiTube (ECT)

Front 47

What are advantages of the ECT?

Back 47

-Provides alternate airway control

Front 48

What are the advantages of ECT continued?

Back 48

-Significantly diminishes gastric
distention and regurgitation

Front 49

What are disadvantages of the ECT?

Back 49

-Maintaining adequate mask seal is difficult

Front 50

What are advantages of the LMA?

Back 50

-Training in the placement and use of an LMA is simple

Front 51

What are some disadvantages of the LMA?

Back 51

-Even when the LMA is successfully inserted,
some patients cannot be ventilated through it.

Front 52

What are some Indications for the King LT?

Back 52

-Use as a rescue device for failed ET
-Long transport times
-Inadequate compliance with BVM and OPA

Front 53

What are some disadvantages / contraindications of the King LT?

Back 53

-Can only be used on patients over 4 feet tall
-Cannot use on patients with intact gag reflex
-Patients who have ingested a -Patients who have ingested a
caustic substance

Front 54

What is capnography?

Back 54

-Measure exhaled carbon dioxide
concentrations