Oxygenation

Question 1

List causes of airway obstruction.

Answer 1

Soft tissue collapse in the pharynx.
Congenital.
Infective.
Allergic.
Haemorrhage.
Tumour

Question 2

List ways of managing an upper airway obstruction.

Answer 2

Basic airway opening manouvres (head tilt, chin lift, jaw thrust)
Airway adjuncts (Oral, nasal, laryngeal mask airway)
Endotracheal intubation
Cricothyrotomy

Question 3

What does chest movements but no air movement suggest?

Answer 3

Airway obstruction

Question 4

What does no chest movement and no air movement suggest?

Answer 4

Apnoea

Question 5

Where is the needle or tube inserted in a cricothyroidotomy?

Answer 5

Between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages.

Question 6

What is the difference between a reservoir mask and a venturi mask?

Answer 6

A reservoir mask delivers high flow oxygen- up to 100%.

A venturi mask delivers oxygen entrained with air. The percentage oxygen depends on the mask.

Question 7

What are the clinical signs and symptoms of hypoxia?

Answer 7

Cyanosis
Increased respiratory rate
cerebral effects: drowsiness, agitated, going towards coma
CV effects
Acidosis 
Organ damage

Question 8

a) What is respiratory failure and how does it manifest?

b) What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 respiratory failure?

Answer 8

a) Inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system. Manifests as hypoxaemia (Pa02 < 8 kPa) or as hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 6.7 kPa).
b) type 1 is the absence of hypercapnia, type 2 is the presence of hypercapnia.

Question 9

What are some causes of respiratory failure?

Answer 9

Airway obstruction
Central respiratory depression : drugs
Muscle weakness: myasthenia, muscle dystrophy, polio, Guillain-Barre, stroke.
Abnormality of lung tissue
Abnormality of chest wall: scoliosis, chest wound, extreme obesity