10- Airway and Ventilation Flashcards
CRITICAL FACT
Ensuring an open airway is the most important step you can take in caring for a patient, because a person cannot breathe without an open airway. A patient who can speak or cry is conscious, has an open airway, is breathing and has a pulse.
Once you have an open airway:
1) clear any obstructions
2) assess breathing
3) breathing emergency (artificial ventilations)
Two types of respiratory emergencies:
1) respiratory distress (breathing becomes difficult)
2) respiratory arrest (breathing stops)
Breathing requires:
that the respiratory, circulatory, nervous and musculoskeletal systems work together.
CRITICAL FACT
There are many reasons why a person may have difficulty breathing. Reasons include an inadequate amount of oxygen being taken in, a low-oxygen environment, the presence of poisonous gases, infection, poor circulation or other health-related issues.
CRITICAL FACT
Oxygenation refers to the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Hypoxia is the term used to describe an insufficient amount of oxygen delivered to the cells.
A respiratory emergency occurs when:
air cannot travel freely and easily into the lungs
Brain must receive oxygen within
4-6 mins (brain damage possible)
6-10 mins (brain damage likely
Over 10 mins (irreversible brain damage certain)
Causes of respiratory distress:
1) partially obstructed airway
2) illness
3) asthma
4) electrocution
5) heart attack
6) injury to the head, chest, lungs or abdomen
7) allergic reactions
8) drugs
9) poisoning
10) emotional distress
Two types of airway obstruction:
1) mechanical (any foreign body lodged in airway)
2) automical (tongue)
CRITICAL FACT
A patient who is awake and alert but unable to speak, can only speak a few words or has a hoarse-sounding voice may be having severe difficulty breathing. Inadequate breathing may also be caused by swelling due to trauma, infection or an allergic reaction.
CRITICAL FACT
Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) is an emergency situation that needs immediate attention. The most common cause of an FBAO is a solid object, such as food.
Two techniques can be used to remove visible foreign matter and fluids from the upper airway of an unconscious patient:
1) finger sweeps (removing an object or other foreign matter from a patient’s mouth with a finger. Only performed on an unconscious patient & only when you can see a foreign matter in the patient’s mouth.
2) suctioning (remove blood, fluids or food particles from the airway)
CRITICAL FACT
The normal rate of breathing for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. For children, it is 15 to 30 breaths per minute. For infants, it is 25 to 50 per minute. Adequate breathing means that respiratory rate, depth and effort are normal
Adequate breathing means that:
respiratory rate, depth and effort are normal.
CRITICAL FACT
Any of the following signs suggests that breathing is inadequate: muscles between the ribs pull in on inhalation; pursed lips breathing; nasal flaring; fatigue; excessive use of abdominal muscles to breathe; sweating; and deviated trachea.
A limitation of the resuscitation mask:
without use of a BVM or emergency oxygen, it only delivers 16% oxygen through the responder’s exhaled breath.
If you blow too much air into the patient, it may
enter the stomach, causing gastric distention. Blow slowly to avoid air in the stomach.
Suspect an injury to the head, neck or spine if the patient:
1) was involved in a motor-vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle crash as an occupant, rider or pedestrian
2) was injured as a result of a fall from greater than standing height
3) complains of neck or back pain
4) tingling in the extremities or weakness
5) is not fully alert
6) appears to be intoxicated
7) appears frail or over 65 years of age
8) has an obvious head or neck injury
Ventilation rates:
Newborn (30-60 per minute at about 1 sec for each)
Child or infant (12-20 per minute at 1 sec each)
Adult (10-12 per minute at 1 second each)
Assisted ventilation is given when the patient shows signs and symptoms of:
1) inadequate breathing
2) breathing and heart rates that are too fast or too slow
3) cyanosis
4) inadequate chest wall motion
5) changes in consciousness, restlessness and chest pain
If there is a pulse but no breathing:
1) open the airway
2) blow into the mask
Adult (1 vent every 5 seconds)
Child (1 vent every 3 seconds)
Infant (each vent should last 1 second)
For a patient with a suspected head, neck or spinal injury, use the
jaw-thrust (without head extension) maneuver to open the airway to give ventilations
Recheck for breathing and a pulse
about ever 2 minutes
Remove the mask and look, listen and feel for breathing and a pulse for no more than
10 seconds
