Airway Management Flashcards

Oral suctioning with a Yankauer catheter should be limited to:

Answer: 10–15 second intervals

Suctioning should be limited to 10–15 seconds per pass to minimize hypoxia and mucosal trauma.

Closed-suction catheter systems are preferred in mechanically ventilated patients primarily to:

Answer: Maintain PEEP and prevent circuit contamination during suctioning

Closed-suction systems allow tracheal suctioning without disconnecting the ventilator circuit, preserving PEEP, oxygenation, and reducing infection risk.

Which sign indicates that a tracheostomy tube cuff is overinflated?

Answer: Tracheal mucosal ischemia and pressure necrosis over time

Overinflated cuffs exert excessive pressure on tracheal mucosa, reducing capillary perfusion and causing ischemic necrosis if sustained.

Heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) used in ventilator circuits function by:

Answer: Capturing heat and moisture from exhaled air and returning it to the next breath

HMEs are passive 'artificial noses' that trap heat and moisture from exhaled gas and release it to warm and humidify the next inhaled breath.

During orotracheal suctioning, the catheter should be inserted to what depth before applying suction?

Answer: Until resistance is met (carina level), then withdrawn 1 cm

The catheter is advanced until carina resistance is felt, then withdrawn 1 cm before applying suction to avoid direct mucosal injury at the carina.

Which complication is specific to tracheostomy and not typically seen with endotracheal intubation?

Answer: Tracheoinnominate artery fistula

Tracheoinnominate artery fistula is a rare but life-threatening complication unique to tracheostomy due to the proximity of the innominate artery to the lower trachea.