Airway and Ventilatory Management Flashcards

In trauma airway management, what is the most important reason for preoxygenation before rapid sequence intubation?

Answer: To create an oxygen reservoir that extends the safe apnea period

Preoxygenation replaces nitrogen in the functional residual capacity with oxygen, creating a reservoir that allows 3-5 minutes of safe apnea time.

A patient with severe maxillofacial trauma and active oropharyngeal hemorrhage cannot be intubated orally. Bag-valve-mask is ineffective. What is the next best step?

Answer: Perform surgical cricothyroidotomy

In a CICO scenario with massive facial trauma, surgical cricothyroidotomy provides a definitive airway below the level of obstruction.

After intubation, a trauma patient's oxygen saturation drops and breath sounds are heard only on the right side. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Right mainstem bronchus intubation

Unilateral right-sided breath sounds after intubation most commonly indicates right mainstem bronchus intubation.

Which medication combination is most commonly used for rapid sequence intubation in the trauma setting?

Answer: Etomidate and succinylcholine

Etomidate provides rapid onset sedation with minimal hemodynamic effects, and succinylcholine provides rapid-onset, short-duration paralysis.

A patient with a suspected basilar skull fracture requires emergency airway management. Which approach is contraindicated?

Answer: Nasotracheal intubation

Nasotracheal intubation is contraindicated in patients with suspected basilar skull fractures due to the risk of intracranial placement.

What is the recommended method to confirm correct endotracheal tube placement in the trauma setting?

Answer: End-tidal CO2 detection combined with clinical assessment

End-tidal CO2 combined with clinical assessment is the most reliable method to confirm tracheal placement.