Airway and Breathing Flashcards

A blue or greyish coloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood is called?

Answer: Cyanosis

Cyanosis is a medical sign characterized by a bluish or grayish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and nail beds. This coloration is caused by the presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood, indicating a lack of sufficient oxygen delivery to the tissues. It is a critical sign of hypoxemia or poor circulation.

You are performing rescue breaths using an Ambu bag attached to 100% O2. After several breaths you notice the patients O2 saturation has dropped significantly. What should you do next?

Answer: Reposition the patient's head

If a patient's oxygen saturation drops significantly during rescue breaths, the most common and immediate problem is an obstructed airway, often caused by the tongue falling back. Repositioning the patient's head, typically using a head-tilt chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver, is the first and most crucial step to open the airway and allow for effective ventilation. A proper airway is paramount for oxygen delivery.

What is the proper amount of air that should be injected to the cuff of an Endo Tracheal Tube?

Answer: 10 cc

When inflating the cuff of an endotracheal tube, approximately 5-10 cc of air is typically injected. The goal is to create a minimal occlusive volume (MOV) that seals the trachea, preventing air leakage and aspiration, without overinflating the cuff. Overinflation can cause tracheal ischemia and damage, so careful inflation and monitoring are essential.

The space between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis is called?

Answer: Vallecula

The vallecula is an anatomical space located between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis. This landmark is crucial during direct laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation. The tip of a curved laryngoscope blade (Macintosh) is typically placed in the vallecula to indirectly lift the epiglottis and visualize the vocal cords.

What condition is characterized by gasping, labored breathing, and strange vocalizations?

Answer: Agonal Breaths

Agonal breaths are gasping, labored, and often noisy respirations that are a sign of severe brain hypoxia and impending respiratory arrest. These breaths are not effective for ventilation and indicate a critical medical emergency. They are often observed in patients in cardiac arrest or near death.

What is the maximum amount of time that may pass while attempting an intubation?

Answer: 30 Seconds

During an attempt at endotracheal intubation, it is critical to limit each attempt to a maximum of 30 seconds. Prolonged intubation attempts can lead to severe hypoxia and bradycardia, as the patient is not being ventilated during this time. If intubation is unsuccessful within 30 seconds, the rescuer must stop, ventilate the patient, and then reattempt if necessary.

What condition is characterized by a high pitched sound resulting from turbulent air flow in the upper airway? It may be inspiratory, expiratory or present on both inspiration and expiration.

Answer: Stridor

Stridor is a high-pitched, harsh sound, typically heard on inspiration, that results from turbulent airflow through a narrowed upper airway. It indicates a significant obstruction in the larynx or trachea, which can be caused by foreign bodies, swelling, or anatomical abnormalities. Stridor is a serious sign requiring immediate assessment and intervention.

The inability to move enough air required for adequate perfusion is known as what?

Answer: Respiratory Failure

Respiratory failure occurs when the respiratory system can no longer meet the body's metabolic demands for oxygen and carbon dioxide elimination. This means that despite the patient's efforts, they cannot move enough air to adequately oxygenate their blood or remove sufficient carbon dioxide, leading to inadequate perfusion of the body's tissues. It is a critical condition requiring immediate intervention.

Which is NOT a correct technique for confirming correct ET Tube placement?

Answer: Visualizing rise and fall of the chest.

While visualizing the rise and fall of the chest is an initial observation, it is not a definitive technique for confirming correct ET tube placement. Chest rise can occur with esophageal intubation due to gastric distention or transmitted pressure. More reliable methods include auscultation for bilateral breath sounds and absent epigastric sounds, as well as the use of capnography (CO2 detection).

Two large tubes that bring air to and from the lungs are known as what?

Answer: Bronchi

The bronchi are the two main airways that branch off the trachea, one leading to each lung. They serve as the primary conduits for air to travel to and from the lungs. The larynx is the voice box, the diaphragm is a muscle of respiration, and ronchi are adventitious breath sounds.

What term refers to the expansion of the stomach caused by excessive ventilation pressures, which causes excess air to enter the stomach instead of the lungs?

Answer: Gastric Distention

Gastric distention is the term for the stomach becoming inflated with air, often due to excessive ventilation pressures or improper airway management. This can happen when air is forced into the esophagus instead of the trachea during ventilations. Gastric distention is dangerous as it can impede diaphragmatic movement, reduce lung volume, and increase the risk of regurgitation and aspiration.

Which of the following is NOT a sign of adequate breathing?

Answer: Breathing limited to abdominal muscles.

Breathing limited to abdominal muscles, often referred to as accessory muscle use or paradoxical breathing, is a sign of increased work of breathing and respiratory distress, not adequate breathing. Adequate breathing involves minimal effort, equal chest expansion, and a normal rate and depth, without the use of accessory muscles. The other options are all indicators of adequate breathing.

Cyanosis can be checked by observing the patient's _______?

Answer: Nail beds

Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, indicates inadequate oxygenation. While it can be subtle, it is often most noticeable in areas with rich capillary beds and thinner skin, such as the nail beds, lips, and mucous membranes. Observing the nail beds is a common and effective way to check for peripheral cyanosis.

An oral and nasal airway should be:

Answer: Used to keep the tongue from blocking the airway

Oral and nasal airways are designed to prevent the tongue from obstructing the upper airway, which is a common cause of airway compromise in unconscious patients. They create a patent passage for air to move to and from the lungs. These adjuncts do not prevent the need for suctioning, nor are they inserted in all critically injured patients without assessing airway patency first.

Which medication that will open bronchioles and increase effectiveness of breathing is typically used to treat a patient with shortness of breath?

Answer: Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators are medications specifically designed to relax the smooth muscles surrounding the bronchioles, causing them to widen or 'dilate.' This action reduces airway resistance and improves airflow into and out of the lungs, making breathing easier for patients experiencing shortness of breath due to conditions like asthma or COPD.