CH 10 Airway Management, Respiration, Ventilation, and Oxygenation

Pulmonary ventilation

The mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs.

External respiration

The exchange of gases between the alveoli and the surrounding pulmonary capillaries.

Internal respiration

The exchange of gases between the blood in the systemic capillaries and the body's cells.

Cellular respiration

The process by which cells break down glucose and oxygen to produce energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Oxygenation

The process in which oxygen saturates the blood and cells.

Primary stimulus to breathe

Increased carbon dioxide in arterial blood, detected by chemoreceptors in the brainstem.

Hypoxic drive

A condition in which some COPD patients rely on decreased oxygen levels, rather than increased carbon dioxide, as their primary stimulus to breathe.

Hypoxemia

A low oxygen content in arterial blood caused by conditions that limit airflow or gas exchange.

Hypoxia

A condition where inadequate oxygen is being delivered to the body's cells.

Cyanosis

A bluish gray skin color that is a late sign of hypoxia.

Anaerobic metabolism

A result of cellular hypoxia characterized by insufficient energy production and the buildup of lactic acid.

Carina

The point where the trachea bifurcates into the left and right mainstem bronchi.

Ear-to-sternal-notch position

A position where the opening of the external ear is aligned horizontally with the sternal notch to optimize the airway.

Head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver

The manual maneuver used to open the airway of a patient when no spinal injury is suspected.

Jaw-thrust maneuver

The manual maneuver used to open the airway when a spinal injury is suspected, allowing the neck to remain in a neutral position.

Recovery position

Positioning a patient with altered mental status on their side to prevent aspiration; contraindicated in spinal injury or patients needing positive pressure ventilation.

Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)

An airway adjunct used for unresponsive patients without a gag reflex to keep the tongue from obstructing the airway.

Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)

An airway adjunct used for patients with clenched teeth or those unable to tolerate an OPA; contraindicated in suspected skull base fractures.

Tidal volume

The amount of air moved in or out of the lungs during one respiration.

Minute volume

The total amount of air moved into and out of the lungs in one minute, calculated as respiratory rate multiplied by tidal volume.

Alveolar ventilation

The amount of air breathed in that actually reaches the alveoli for gas exchange.

Dead air space

The volume of air in the respiratory tract that does not participate in gas exchange.

Stridor

An abnormal, high-pitched upper airway sound indicating partial obstruction.

Paradoxical motion

A sign of flail chest where a segment of the chest wall moves inward during inhalation and outward during exhalation.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

A form of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation used for awake, spontaneously breathing patients in respiratory distress.

Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP)

A ventilation mode similar to CPAP that allows for different airway pressure settings during inspiration and expiration.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC)

An oxygenation device that provides humidified oxygen at flow rates between $20\,lpm$ and $60\,lpm$.

Stoma

A surgical opening in the neck that may indicate a tracheostomy or laryngectomy.

Oxygen Pressure Regulator

A device that reduces the high pressure in an oxygen cylinder ($2,000\,psi$) to a safe range ($0.5\text{ to }25\,lpm$).

Nonrebreather mask

An oxygen delivery device used at $$15\