emergency medicine

Question 1

What is the only airway opening maneuver used in trauma cases?

Answer 1

Jaw thrustIncase of cervical spine injury

Question 2

How do airway opening maneuvers work?

Answer 2

They apply anterior tension to the hyoid bone and draw the epiglottis away from the posterior pharyngeal wall, opening the pharynx

Question 3

Define type 1 respiratory failure

Answer 3

PaO2 low (8.0 kPa)PaCO2 normal or low (<6.7 kPa)

Question 4

What are causes of type 1 respiratory failure?

Answer 4

Parenchymal disease (V/Q mismatch)
Interstitial lung diseases: ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), pneumonia, emphysema
Right-to-left shunt

Question 5

Define type 2 respiratory failure

Answer 5

PaO2 decreased (<8.0 kPa)PaCO2 increased (>6.7 kPa)

Question 6

What are the causes of type 2 respiratory failure?

Answer 6

Increased airway resistance (croup, bronchiolitis, asthma)Neurological hypoventilation (drug effects, brain stem lesion)Neuromuscular problems (Guillain–Barré syndrome, congenital myopathy)Decreased functional residual capacity (e.g. kyphoscoliosis, chest deformity, pneumothorax, flail chest)

Question 7

What type of shock do you give for pulseless VT? + what energy?

Answer 7

unsynchronised defibrillation
start at 4 joules, second shock also 4 joules

Question 8

What type of shock do you give for VT with pulse? + what energy?

Answer 8

synchronised defibrillation
Start at 1 joule
then inc to 2 joules.