Airway Management Flashcards
Apnea
(Apneic)
A complete absence of breathing in a patient.
The temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep or in the event of a medical / traumatic emergency.
Treatments include:
— High-flow O2 — Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) — Bag-Valve Mask (BVM) — CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
Aspiration
Inhaling foreign material such as vomitus or blood into the lungs.
Commonly seen with Pneumonia and/or a failure from the Epiglottis with a vomitus patient.
Treatments include:
— Suctioning (15 seconds; 2 minutes on-air) — Aggressively manage patient airway — Maintain adequate circulation
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
A progressive “umbrella” condition of Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, and/or Asthma.
Treatments include:
— Albuterol (2.5mg / 3mL INH) — Bronchodilators / Beta-antagonists — CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
Gurgling
The sound of fluid in the upper airway, which indicates a need for immediate suctioning.
Treatments include:
— Suctioning (15 seconds; 2 minutes on-air) — Aggressively manage patient airway — Maintain adequate circulation
Hypoxia
Deficient in oxygen, also congruent with a shortage of oxygen in the body.
Minute Volume
The amount of air moved during one minute.
— Average Adult Minute Volume: 5-8 LPM
Rales / Crackles
Lung sounds which indicate fluid in the lower airways.
Commonly seen in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients.
Treatments include:
— High Flow O2 Administration — Assisted Ventilation (BVM) — Inhaled Steroid Medications
Retractions
The visible sinking in the chest wall with inspiration and the patient with respiratory difficulty.
Noticeable above the clavicle (collarbone), between the ribs, and below the ribs.
Snoring
Hey sound heard in the upper airway which is usually caused by the tongue falling backward into the throat canal.
This indicates the need to immediately open the airway.
Treatments include:
— Suctioning (15 seconds; 2 minutes on-air) — Aggressively manage patient airway — Maintain adequate circulation
Stridor
A high-pitched sound heard in the upper airway.
Commonly caused by an upper airway obstruction.
Treatments include:
— Anti-inflammatory Medications
— Nebulizer Therapy
— Epinephrine (Nebulizer)
Tidal Volume
The amount of air moved during 1 respiratory breath.
— Average Adult (M): 500 mL / minute — Average Adult (F): 400 mL / minute
Wheezing
A lung sound caused by constriction of the lower airways, and most easily heard during exhalation.
Commonly seen in Asthmatics and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients.
Treatments include:
— Albuterol (inhaled beta antagonist)
— Inhaler Medications
— Nebulizer Therapy
— Humidifiers
Vesicular Breathing
Breath sounds which are soft, low-pitched sounds that care providers can hear throughout the lungs, primarily when a person inhales.
They are normal breaths, but some abnormal sounds may occur if a person has an illness or chronic condition.
Breathing sounds heard when auscultating over lung tissues.
Bronchial Breathing
Breath sounds which are loud, harsh breathing sounds with a midrange pitch.
Care providers usually associate the sounds with exhalation, as their expiratory length is longer than their inspiratory length.
Bronchial breath sounds are normal as long as they occur over the trachea while the person is breathing out.
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
(Type I)
Also known as Hypoxemia, is a condition that occurs when you do not have enough O2 in the blood stream.
Treatments include:
— O2 Administration
— Nasal Canula
— Assisted Ventilation (BVM)