- Prehospital Trauma Life Support Airway and Ventilation Flashcards

Which airway adjunct is most appropriate for an unconscious trauma patient with an intact gag reflex?

Answer: Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)

The nasopharyngeal airway is better tolerated than the OPA in patients with an intact gag reflex.

What is the primary risk of hyperventilation in a trauma patient with a head injury?

Answer: Cerebral vasoconstriction causing decreased cerebral perfusion

Hyperventilation causes hypocapnia leading to cerebral vasoconstriction, which reduces cerebral blood flow and can worsen secondary brain injury.

In PHTLS, what is the jaw thrust maneuver primarily used for?

Answer: Opening the airway in patients with suspected cervical spine injury

The jaw thrust opens the airway by displacing the mandible anteriorly without extending the neck, making it the preferred technique when cervical spine injury is suspected.

What is the preferred initial ventilation method for a trauma patient requiring assisted ventilation in the field?

Answer: Bag-valve-mask with supplemental oxygen

Bag-valve-mask ventilation with supplemental oxygen provides effective ventilation with high FiO2 delivery.

Which clinical sign indicates a potentially compromised airway in a trauma patient?

Answer: Stridor or gurgling sounds during breathing

Stridor indicates upper airway narrowing and gurgling suggests fluid in the airway, both signs of airway compromise requiring immediate intervention.

According to PHTLS, what is the appropriate oxygen saturation target for trauma patients?

Answer: Greater than or equal to 94%

PHTLS recommends maintaining oxygen saturation at 94% or above in trauma patients to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation.

A trauma patient with facial burns develops progressive hoarseness and stridor. What does PHTLS recommend?

Answer: Early definitive airway management before complete obstruction occurs

Progressive hoarseness and stridor in a burn patient indicate developing airway edema that may rapidly progress to complete obstruction.

What complication should be anticipated when using a supraglottic airway device in a patient with active upper airway bleeding?

Answer: Aspiration of blood around an imperfect seal

Supraglottic devices do not provide a definitive seal around the trachea, so active bleeding can track around the device and be aspirated.

PHTLS teaches that which trauma mechanism most frequently leads to airway compromise?

Answer: Maxillofacial trauma with bleeding and structural disruption

Maxillofacial trauma commonly causes airway compromise through structural disruption, bleeding, loose teeth or bone fragments, and soft tissue swelling.

What is the recommended technique for suctioning a trauma patient's airway?

Answer: Intermittent suctioning for no more than 10 seconds at a time in adults

Suctioning should be limited to 10-second intervals in adults to prevent hypoxia, with pre-oxygenation when possible.

According to PHTLS, when is a surgical cricothyrotomy indicated in a trauma patient?

Answer: When the airway cannot be secured by any other method and ventilation is inadequate

Surgical cricothyrotomy is the final step in the 'cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate' pathway when all other airway methods have failed.

What is the significance of end-tidal CO2 monitoring (capnography) in prehospital trauma care?

Answer: It provides continuous monitoring of ventilation adequacy, perfusion status, and tube position

Capnography provides continuous data on ventilation adequacy, confirms airway device placement, monitors perfusion status, and can detect deterioration in real time.