Airway Fisdap Questions

What is the amount of air that normally reaches the alveoli in an adult?

350ml

How much air is in the average adult ventilation?

500ml

How much air is lost in the area of dead space when an adult is ventilating?

150ml

A 67 year old male complains of mild respiratory distress. He smokes 4 packs of cigarettes a day and reports a consistent cough and frequent respiratory infections. Chest sounds reveal bilateral rhonchi. What should you suspect?

Chronic bronchitis

EXPLANATION: chronic bronchitis is long term inflammation of the bronchioles. Excessive mucus and pus production leads to obstructed airways. the consistent cough is the body's response to clear the airway obstruction

An unresponsive 43 year old male is cool, pale, diaphoretic, and breathing 6 times a minute. which device should you use to administer oxygen?

Bag-valve mask

EXPLANATION: He is unresponsive and breathing too slow. This is a "sick" patient and assisting his ventilation should be the first intervention. You can increase his respiratory rate with a bag-valve mask.

diaphoretic

Characterized by profuse sweating.

Nasal cannula delivers about what percentage of oxygen

20-44%

What are the structures that branch off of the trachea into the lower airway?

Bronchi

EXPLANATION: the trachea splits at the carina into the left and right bronchus. The bronchi get smaller and smaller until it reaches the terminal bronchioles where the alveoli are located.

What is the normal range of breaths per minute for an adult

12-20

A febrile 44 year old male complains of shortness of breath and has dull chest pain. he has been coughing up "rusty" sputum for the last 3 days. what is the most likely cause?

Pneumonia

EXPLANATION: Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue and the "rusty" sputum (spit) is a sign of a lower airway infection. He is febrile (has a fever) from an immune response to the infection, and the "dull" chest pain is a common symptom at the location of the infection.

A 42 year old male complains of shortness of breath after being sprayed with super-heated steam. He has burns to his face, neck and upper chest. Vitals signs are BP 112/66, P 124, R 26 shallow and labored. What should you do?

Assists his ventilations

EXPLANATION: He is in respiratory failure. His breathing is ineffective because his respirations are fast and shallow. Shallow respirations do not allow for adequate oxygen exchange because the air is not drawn down far enough into the lungs. Assisting his breathing with positive pressure ventilations will help reduce any developing pulmonary edema from the lower airway burns.

What is the term for abnormal breath sounds that result from an obstructed upper airway?

Stridor

How should you insert a nasopharyngeal airway?

Face the bevel toward the septum

Also know to only use water-soluble lubricants when inserting a NPA, no oil-based lubricants

The use of accessory muscles and nasal flaring are signs of what type of breathing?

Labored breathing

Expect to initially see an increases respiratory rate ad heart rate with labored breathing. As the patient begins to tire, the respiratory rate and the quality will begin to decrease, which worsens the problem.

What are the small air sacs at the end of the airway that are responsible for gas exchange?

Alveoli

A 53 year old male is sleepy, diaphoretic, difficult to arouse and breathing 8 times a minute. What do you suspect?

Respiratory failure

What is directly posterior to the nose?

Nasopharynx

The nasopharynx connects the opening of the nostrils to the soft palate, which is located at the back of the mouth. This passage is designed to warm up inhaled air and filters out fine particulate matter

What is the name of the muscular structure the divides the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity?

Diaphragm

What is the most common location for an airway obstruction?

Pharynx

This passageway is shared by air and food, so it is a common site for a partial of complete obstruction, which could be food or a flaccid tongue.

What part of the respiratory system contains the vocal cords?

Larynx

This structure is directly above the trachea.

What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult?

12-20

What is the name of the cartilaginous ridge in the trachea at which the right and left lungs split?

Carina

How many lobes are in the lungs?

5

3 lobes on the right and 2 lobes on the left

What is the name of the passageway shared by the digestive system and the respiratory system for air and food?

Pharynx

The nasal cavity and mouth share this passageway. Air travels down the larynx and food travels into the esophagus

What ring-shaped structure forms the lower portion of the larynx?

Cricoid cartilage

This is located directly inferior of the thyroid cartilage

What structure is at the terminal portion of the respiratory​ tree?

Alveloi

An inadequate amount of oxygen being delivered to the cells is​ called:

Hypoxia

What is the name of the only complete cartilaginous ring of the​ trachea?

Cricoid Cartilage

The two main branches of the trachea form​ the:

Bronchi

You are managing a patient with damage to the brainstem due to a stroke. How can this have a detrimental effect on the​ patient's breathing​ status?

There can be a change in both the breathing rate and regularity

Of the following influences on​ breathing, which one has the MOST significant impact on the​ moment-to-moment regulation of​ breathing?

Carbon dioxide levels

External respiration is best described as​ the:

Exchange of gases between the alveoli and the surrounding capillary bed

During cellular respiration and​ metabolism, there is constant production of acidic waste products such as hydrogen. How does the body initially manage this​ acid?

Hydrogen is converted into carbonic acid and later into CO2 and H2O

While you are transporting a young teenager with a cold and​ cough, he asks you what his respiratory system does. How would you​ respond?

It takes oxygen from the air and supplies it to the blood

Which muscle of the body is the primary one that allows normal inhalation to​ occur?

Diaphragm

When your patient​ inhales, the diaphragm and what other muscle group contracts in order for air to flow into the​ lungs?

External intercostal muscles

You are caring for a patient with respiratory distress. The patient is found in a tripod position with nasal​ flaring, the pulse oximetry is 94​ percent, and you note absent alveolar breath sounds and cyanosis around the mouth and nail beds. Given these​ findings, which is MOST suggestive of actual breathing​ inadequacy?

Absent alveolar breath sounds

Following the assessment of a patient who was found in a tripod​ position, you have concluded that the patient is unable to adequately deliver oxygenated blood to the peripheral tissues despite​ high-flow oxygen via NRB. This is known​ as:

Hypoxia

As brain cells start to become initially​ hypoxic, what is a common CNS​ response?

Restlessness and agitation

Which of the following​ patients, in the absence of disease or​ injury, will use oxygen at the highest​ rate, and​ thus, must always be adequately oxygenated and​ ventilated?

A patient who is 3 years old

Which patient population is most likely to become hypoxic from poor oxygen reserves during periods of hypoventilation or​ apnea?

Infants

You are caring for a​ two-week-old who reportedly is having trouble breathing. Which of the below findings BEST supports the suspicion the patient is truly​ hypoxic?

The heart rate is 60 per minute

As compared to​ infants, what response do adults typically display as they initially start to become​ hypoxic?

The heart rate increases

An infant who is conscious with a pulse has an obstructed​ airway, the EMT​ should:

Alternate back blows and chest thrusts

How does the mental status of a patient change in light of an airway occlusion from a foreign body trapped in the​ trachea?

The patient can rapidly become unresponsive

The most common cause of airway obstruction in the patient who is found supine and unresponsive​ is:

The tongue

Which of the following anatomical differences between the pediatric and adult airway renders the pediatric patient more susceptible to airway occlusion when becoming​ obtunded?

Proportionally larger tongue

Your unit is on the scene of a call for a​ 19-year-old female who is having an asthma attack. Her pulse ox is in the​ mid-90s, and you hear bilateral wheezing with auscultation. What is your initial concern for this conscious patient with respiratory​ distress?

Diminishing pulmonary function until respiratory failure occurs

Which of the following would have the least contributory effect on reducing tidal volume in a​ patient?

Diabetes or high blood pressure

You are managing a patient who is suffering from a right ventricular infarction. If the patient is also complaining of mild​ dyspnea, how could the MI contribute to the perception of​ dyspnea?

Decreased perfusion to the lungs

If a patient has suffered a heart attack and the left ventricle can no longer pump blood​ effectively, how can this cause respiratory compromise in the​ patient?

Increased amount of fluid filling the alveoli

Blood, vomitus, or other substances that occlude the nasopharynx may drain and lead​ to:

Airway occlusion

Just because a patient is attempting to breathe against a partially occluded​ airway, if they do NOT move enough air to reach the​ alveoli, what secondary complication might they​ experience?

Hypoxia or Hypercapnia

Which of the following is the MOST important airway concern for any patient who displays an altered mental​ status?

The tongue will relax into the back of the throat and cause a partial or complete airway obstruction

Which of the following statements is MOST correct about the relationship between the airway status and the level of hypoxia that may be present in a patient who is awake and talking to​ you?

The airway is intact and the risk of hypoxia is low

Which of the following differences between the airways in the adult and pediatric is​ correct?

Pediatrics have a proportionally larger tongue

The narrowest​ part(s) of an​ infant's upper airway is​ (are) the:

Cricoid cartilage

Which of the following vital sign changes is consistent with pediatric hypoxia that may necessitate airway​ and/or ventilatory​ assistance?

Bradycardia

Compared to the adult​ patient, an​ infant's ventilation rate​ is:

Faster and with a lower tidal volume

A​ child's metabolic rate and limited oxygen reserves will cause what detrimental effect to occur more quickly in a child patient than in an adult patient during periods of​ hypoventilation?

Hypoxia

A​ harsh, high-pitched sound heard during​ inspiration, characteristic of an upper airway obstruction due to​ swelling, is​ called:

The patient's skin is pale and clammy

You respond to the scene of a witnessed opiate overdose. On your​ arrival, the patient is unconscious and supine with​ labored, sonorous respirations and cyanotic lips. What would be the cause of the sonorous airway​ sounds?

Airway occlusion from the tongue

You respond to the scene of an industrial accident. As you approach the unconscious​ middle-aged male​ patient, bystanders tell you that he was struck in the face by a large metal beam being transported by a crane. He is unconscious and cyanotic with gurgling respirations. Your FIRST action would be​ to:

Clear the oropharynx

Steps in performing a​ head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver for opening the airway of a​ non-trauma patient​ include:

Tilting the head backward with one hand

You are caring for an adult who was seen by a family member to become unconscious on the​ couch, and then slid to the carpeted floor. He appears to have taken an overdose of a medication. What is the proper technique used to open his​ airway?

Head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver

If a gurgling sound is heard during the provision of artificial ventilation with a bag valve mask​ (BVM), the EMT​ should:

Immediately apply suction to remove the liquid from the airway

Why would an EMT select a nasopharyngeal airway​ (NPA) instead of an​ OPA?

The patient still has a gag reflex

f a patient has a medical problem that caused him to pass out and strike his​ head, the EMT should open the airway using​ the:

Jaw-thrust maneuver

When an infant is unconscious in his​ bed, the EMT should use what procedure to open the airway.

head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver