Airway Management and Ventilation Concepts

Flashcards to aid in understanding key concepts related to airway management and ventilation.

What is the primary reason we can't maintain our airway if unconscious and face down?

We lose muscle control, leading to the tongue blocking the airway.

What sound indicates potential airway obstruction by the tongue?

Snoring.

What is the most common cause of airway obstruction?

The tongue.

In patients who are unconscious and face down, what do we have to do to maintain their airway?

Roll them over to a supine position.

What is the function of a tongue depressor?

To press the tongue down, allowing better airway access.

What must be assessed before using a tongue depressor?

Whether the patient has a gag reflex.

What are the two types of airway adjuncts discussed?

Oropharyngeal airway (OPA) and nasopharyngeal airway (NPA).

When is the OPA contraindicated?

If the patient has a gag reflex.

How do we measure the correct size for an OPA?

From the corner of the mouth to the jaw.

What indicates the use of an NPA instead of an OPA?

If the patient has a gag reflex or a locked jaw.

How is an NPA measured?

From the nostril to the angle of the jaw.

What is the primary way to open someone’s airway?

Head tilt, chin lift.

What is modified jaw thrust used for?

To open the airway in suspected cervical spine injury.

If a patient is not breathing, how long can they survive before significant brain damage occurs?

4 to 6 minutes.

What happens if the airway is obstructed by vomitus?

It could lead to aspiration pneumonia.

What is the suctioning time limit for adults?

Up to fifteen seconds.

Why is suctioning performed on the way out?

To clear the area of liquid or solid parts effectively.

What are the signs of effective ventilation?

Equal chest rise and bilateral lung sounds.

What is the term for when breathing is too fast?

Tachypnea.

What should we assess to determine if a patient is ventilating adequately?

Chest rise and lung sounds.

What does it mean if a patient is exhibiting accessory muscle use?

They are having difficulty breathing.

What is the relationship between respiratory rate and tidal volume?

They together determine the minute volume of air exchanged.

What is the main goal of using adjuncts like OPAs and MPAs?

To help maintain a clear airway.

What kind of airway obstruction are OPAs primarily used for?

Upper airway obstruction.

What are common lung sounds that indicate normal function?

Equal, clear bilateral lung sounds.

What happens to the alveoli as people age?

They lose elasticity and surfactant.

What type of condition can cause hypoxia without obstructing the airway?

Blood loss or pulmonary embolism.

What can excessive oxygen lead to in patients?

Free radicals and potential toxicity.

Why is rapid or forceful ventilation potentially harmful?

It can lead to excessive air in the stomach and gastric distension.

What is the purpose of CPAP?

To provide positive end-expiratory pressure and prevent lung collapse.

What does VQ mismatch refer to in respiratory terms?

Ventilation-perfusion mismatch that affects gas exchange in the lungs.

How do we sample blood gases in an emergency setting?

We generally do not; it's not possible in the field.

How Is an NPA measured?

place the device from the tip of the patient's nose to the tragus (the small pointed part of the ear),