Advanced Airway Management & Ventilation Flashcards
7 cards from real CEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Advanced Airway Management & Ventilation flashcards as text
A patient with a known history of angioedema from ACE inhibitor use presents with rapidly progressing oropharyngeal swelling. Which airway approach is MOST prudent?
Answer: Attempt RSI with video laryngoscopy and have surgical airway immediately available
ACE inhibitor angioedema can rapidly obliterate the airway; RSI with video laryngoscopy should be performed early while surgical airway is prepared as a backup given the potential for complete airway loss.
When performing a surgical cricothyrotomy, the incision is made through which structure?
Answer: Cricothyroid membrane
The cricothyroid membrane, located between the thyroid cartilage superiorly and the cricoid cartilage inferiorly, is the target for emergency surgical cricothyrotomy due to its superficial, avascular midline position.
Post-intubation, a mechanically ventilated patient has rising PaCO2 despite a respiratory rate of 16. Which ventilator change would BEST address this?
Answer: Increase tidal volume from 450 mL to 550 mL
Rising PaCO2 indicates inadequate minute ventilation; increasing tidal volume (within lung-protective limits) increases alveolar ventilation and CO2 elimination.
Which of the following is the MOST reliable pre-hospital method to confirm endotracheal tube placement?
Answer: Continuous waveform capnography
Continuous waveform capnography is the gold standard for confirming and monitoring endotracheal tube placement, as it requires pulmonary blood flow to produce CO2 at the tube tip.
A patient with epiglottitis is in the 'tripod position' with audible stridor. You should:
Answer: Allow the patient to maintain their position of comfort while preparing for controlled intubation
Epiglottitis patients should be kept in their position of comfort (upright, tripod) as any manipulation or forced repositioning can precipitate complete airway obstruction; prepare for controlled intubation.
During RSI, ketamine is chosen as the induction agent. Which patient condition makes ketamine PARTICULARLY beneficial compared to etomidate?
Answer: Reactive airway disease with bronchospasm
Ketamine is a bronchodilator and is particularly beneficial in RSI for patients with bronchospasm or reactive airway disease, as it relaxes bronchial smooth muscle.
An unresponsive trauma patient has gurgling respirations and a GCS of 5. After jaw thrust and suctioning, you plan to insert an OPA. How do you confirm the correct OPA size?
Answer: Measure from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe
The correct OPA size is determined by measuring from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe (or from the center of the mouth to the angle of the mandible).