PHTLS Airway and Ventilation 2

Question 1

A trauma patient has a GCS of 8 and is breathing with an irregular pattern. What is the most appropriate airway intervention?

Accepted Answer

Definitive airway management via endotracheal intubation or supraglottic device

Answer

A GCS ≤8 with inadequate breathing indicates the need for a definitive airway to protect and control ventilation.

Question 2

Which finding during airway assessment indicates immediate life-threatening airway obstruction?

Accepted Answer

Complete absence of breath sounds bilaterally with no chest rise

Answer

No breath sounds and no chest rise with ventilation attempts signals complete airway obstruction requiring immediate action.

Question 3

When performing bag-valve-mask ventilation on a trauma patient, what tidal volume and rate are recommended to avoid iatrogenic harm?

Accepted Answer

Tidal volumes causing visible chest rise at 10-12 breaths/min

Answer

PHTLS recommends ventilations sufficient to produce visible chest rise at 10-12/min to prevent hyperventilation and gastric insufflation.

Question 4

A patient with suspected cervical spine injury needs airway management. Which approach is preferred?

Accepted Answer

Use jaw thrust maneuver with in-line spinal stabilization

Answer

Jaw thrust with manual in-line stabilization opens the airway while minimizing cervical spine movement.

Question 5

Which supraglottic airway device is considered acceptable for definitive airway management when endotracheal intubation is not feasible in PHTLS?

Accepted Answer

Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or King LT

Answer

Supraglottic devices like the LMA or King LT are acceptable rescue airways when intubation cannot be performed.

PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Practice Test