Airway and Ventilation Management Flashcards
6 cards from real TNCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Airway and Ventilation Management flashcards as text
What is the primary risk of hyperventilating a patient with traumatic brain injury?
Answer: Cerebral vasoconstriction leading to secondary brain ischemia
Hyperventilation causes hypocapnia, which leads to cerebral vasoconstriction, reducing cerebral blood flow and potentially worsening secondary brain injury.
A patient with a tracheostomy from a previous surgery presents with trauma and respiratory distress. The first step in airway management is:
Answer: Suction the tracheostomy tube and assess patency
Suctioning and assessing patency of the existing tracheostomy tube is the first step, as obstruction by blood, secretions, or a mucus plug is the most common cause of respiratory distress in tracheostomy patients.
In a patient with suspected cervical spine injury requiring intubation, which technique best minimizes cervical spine movement?
Answer: Video laryngoscopy with manual in-line stabilization
Video laryngoscopy combined with manual in-line stabilization provides the best visualization while minimizing cervical spine movement compared to direct laryngoscopy.
Which sign indicates complete airway obstruction in a conscious trauma patient?
Answer: Inability to speak, cough, or breathe with universal choking sign
Complete airway obstruction presents with inability to speak, cough, or breathe. The universal choking sign (hands clutching the throat) is characteristic. Any vocalization indicates partial, not complete, obstruction.
When managing a patient with a flail chest segment, which ventilation strategy is most appropriate?
Answer: Positive pressure ventilation if respiratory failure develops
Positive pressure ventilation provides internal pneumatic stabilization of the flail segment when respiratory failure develops. Adequate pain control is essential for non-intubated patients.
A trauma patient presents with subcutaneous emphysema of the neck and upper chest. This finding most likely indicates:
Answer: Pneumothorax, tracheal injury, or esophageal rupture
Subcutaneous emphysema in the neck and upper chest indicates air leaking into soft tissues, most commonly from pneumothorax, tracheobronchial injury, or less commonly esophageal perforation.