Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
7 cards from real CPEN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Respiratory Emergencies flashcards as text
Which of the following is the FIRST priority when managing a child in respiratory failure?
Answer: Administer supplemental oxygen
Airway and oxygenation are always the first priority; supplemental oxygen should be applied immediately in any child showing signs of respiratory failure.
A 5-month-old with RSV bronchiolitis has an SpO2 of 88% on room air, moderate retractions, and a respiratory rate of 72. The most appropriate initial intervention is:
Answer: Supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
Supplemental oxygen is the mainstay of bronchiolitis treatment; bronchodilators are not routinely recommended as they show no consistent benefit.
A tension pneumothorax in a pediatric patient is BEST initially treated with:
Answer: Needle decompression at the 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis requiring immediate needle decompression — do not delay for imaging.
Heliox therapy in pediatric respiratory emergencies is MOST beneficial for which condition?
Answer: Upper airway obstruction (croup/foreign body)
Heliox (helium-oxygen mixture) reduces turbulent airflow and work of breathing, making it most useful for upper airway obstruction conditions like croup.
Which medication is CONTRAINDICATED in pediatric anaphylaxis with severe bronchospasm?
Answer: Morphine IV
Morphine (and other opioids) can cause histamine release and worsen bronchospasm and hypotension in anaphylaxis.
A child intubated for status asthmaticus develops sudden hypotension and absent breath sounds on the left. The priority action is:
Answer: Check for right mainstem intubation or pneumothorax
Sudden hemodynamic deterioration with unilateral absent breath sounds post-intubation suggests right mainstem intubation or tension pneumothorax — check tube position first.
The 'steeple sign' on anteroposterior neck X-ray in a child with stridor is characteristic of:
Answer: Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)
The steeple sign represents subglottic narrowing on AP X-ray, which is the classic radiographic finding in viral croup.