COPR Airway Management and Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

A patient is unresponsive and apneic. After opening the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift, you attempt bag-valve-mask ventilation but notice significant resistance and chest does not rise. What is your FIRST priority?

Accepted Answer

Reposition the airway and attempt ventilation again

Answer

Airway repositioning is the first corrective step when BVM ventilation fails, as improper positioning is the most common cause of ineffective ventilation.

Question 2

Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator that endotracheal tube placement is correct?

Accepted Answer

Visualization of the tube passing through the vocal cords

Answer

Direct visualization of the tube passing through the vocal cords is the gold standard for confirming correct ETT placement.

Question 3

A patient presents with severe respiratory distress, absent breath sounds on the left, hypotension, and tracheal deviation to the right. What condition should be suspected?

Accepted Answer

Left tension pneumothorax

Answer

Absent breath sounds, tracheal deviation away from the affected side, and hemodynamic compromise are classic signs of tension pneumothorax.

Question 4

When performing nasotracheal intubation, which patient condition is a contraindication?

Accepted Answer

Suspected mid-face or basilar skull fracture

Answer

Mid-face fractures and suspected basilar skull fractures are contraindications to nasotracheal intubation due to the risk of intracranial tube placement.

Question 5

A patient with acute severe asthma is not responding to initial bronchodilator therapy and is becoming increasingly fatigued. Which finding MOST suggests impending respiratory failure?

Accepted Answer

Decreasing level of consciousness and a silent chest

Answer

A silent chest (absence of wheeze due to minimal airflow) combined with decreasing consciousness indicates critical, life-threatening asthma requiring immediate intervention.

COPR - Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators Examination Practice Test

COPR - Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators Examination Practice Test

COPR Airway Management and Respiratory Emergencies