ABCDE- Managing Airways and Breathing

Question 1

What considerations would you need to make when assessing airway

How would you manage a non patent airway

Answer 1

Can they speak?

Are they making any sounds => airway compromise

• Stridor
• Wheeze
• Snoring
• no sounds

Chin tilt, head lift, jaw thrust => reassess

Oropharyngeal adjunct => on unconscious patient (no gag reflex)
Nasopharyngeal adjunct => on conscious patient (has a gag reflex)
I-gel => prevent epiglottis from causing issues
Bag valve mask => 1 person to pump bag slowly, 1 person to hold jaw thrust

Give O2, aim for high sats but get someone to check records for CO2 retention

Question 2

What should you always be considering when managing a rapidly deteriorating patient

Answer 2

Which possible life threatening conditions could this patient have?
-order investigations to rule out differentials

Do I need to contact ICU for intubation

Always get help

Question 3

How would you take a history in an acute setting

-AMPLE

Answer 3

Allergies
Medications
Past Medical History
Last meal eaten
Events surrounding time of injury

Question 4

What are the different methods of giving O2?

-how much O2 can be delivered by this method

Answer 4

Nasal prongs => 24-30% O2, 2L

Venturi mask

• BLUE = 2-4L/min = 24% O2
• WHITE = 4-6L/min = 28% O2
• YELLOW = 8-10L/min = 35% O2
• RED = 10-12L/min = 40% O2
• GREEN = 12-15L/min = 60% O2

Non rebreathe mask
-15L = 85-90% O2

Question 5

What considerations would you need to make when assessing breathing

Answer 5

Look, listen and feel for respiratory distress
-RR, SaO2
-cyanosis, breathing patterns, accessory muscle use
-chest expansion (unequal, reduced)
Condensed resp examination

Bronchodilators
-nebulised on O2

Sit the patient upright to help with breathing