CH 8: Airway Management - Critical Thinking Flashcards
On arrival at the emergency scene, you find an adult female patient with gurgling sounds in the throat and inadequate breathing slowing to almost nothing. How do you proceed to protect the airway?
This patient needs immediate airway intervention including suctioning, positioning and potentially the insertion of an airway adjunct. Further treatment will include positive pressure ventilation and probably advanced life support assistance.
When evaluating a small child you hear stridor. What does this sound tell you? How do you proceed to protect the airway?
Stridor indicates a partially obstructed airway. Your immediate concern is the threat of the airway occluding completely. Rapid transport is necessary.
When assessing an unconscious patient, you note snoring respirations. Should you be concerned with this, and if so, what steps can you take to correct the situation?
Snoring respirations indicate turbulent airflow through the airway. In an injured or ill patient, it generally indicates a decreased capability to maintain the airway as consciousness decreases. Corrective actions include positioning the head, opening the airway and potentially inserting an airway adjunct.
What are the signs of a partially obstructed airway?
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty speaking
Stridor/snoring
Choking/coughing
How might altered mental status impact the airway of your patient?
Altered mental status can impact the patient’s airway because as mental status decreases, control of the muscles that keep the airway open can be impaired. The loss of this muscle tone can lead to the epiglottis falling back and obstructing the glottic opening. Altered mental status can also cause a loss of the gag reflex. Without this protective instinct, patients are at risk for aspiration.
Why is trauma to the neck an immediate and ongoing threat to the airway?
Neck trauma can immediately impact the airway by disrupting pathways and destroying structures but it might also threaten long-term patency by causing swelling occur in the airway passages.
