Airway Management and Oxygen Therapy Flashcards

What is the maximum recommended oxygen flow rate for a nasal cannula before higher flow rates become ineffective and uncomfortable?

Answer: 6 L/min

Flow rates above 6 L/min via nasal cannula do not significantly increase FiO2 and cause mucosal dryness and patient discomfort.

In complete laryngospasm, positive-pressure bag-mask ventilation is ineffective primarily because:

Answer: The vocal cords are tightly adducted, blocking air entry

Complete laryngospasm involves tight adduction of the true and false vocal cords, creating a seal that positive pressure alone cannot overcome.

Succinylcholine is the drug of choice for complete laryngospasm that does not resolve with positive-pressure oxygen because it:

Answer: Causes rapid neuromuscular blockade to relax laryngeal muscles

Succinylcholine is a rapid-onset depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent that relaxes the laryngeal muscles within 60 seconds, breaking the laryngospasm.

Which monitoring device continuously and non-invasively measures arterial oxygen saturation during sedation?

Answer: Pulse oximeter

A pulse oximeter uses photoplethysmography to measure the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen continuously without arterial puncture.

End-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) monitoring is particularly valuable during sedation because it can detect:

Answer: Apnea or hypoventilation earlier than pulse oximetry

EtCO2 reflects the CO2 in exhaled gas; apnea or hypoventilation causes the waveform to disappear or CO2 to rise before SpO2 begins to fall, providing earlier warning.

If a patient becomes apneic during dental sedation, the FIRST action the dental anesthesia assistant should take is:

Answer: Attempt ventilation with a bag-valve-mask and 100% oxygen

Apnea requires immediate respiratory support with a bag-valve-mask before progressing to ACLS interventions; chest compressions are indicated only for cardiac arrest.

During dental sedation, the recommended patient chair position that best supports airway patency is:

Answer: Semi-reclined with the head slightly extended

A semi-reclined position with slight head extension aligns the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes, reducing the risk of the tongue obstructing the posterior pharynx.