Primary Survey, Airway Management and Ventilation Flashcards
What is the purpose of a primary survey?
To quickly ascertain how sick a patient is.
How long should a primary survey ideally take?
90 seconds.
What is the structured approach used in a primary survey?
‘Find it, Fix it, Move on’ algorithm.
What should be fixed first in a primary survey?
Airway or adequate breathing.
What does DRC-CAB stand for in a primary survey?
- Danger
- Response
- Catastrophic bleeding
- Airway
- Breathing
- Circulation
What should be done if the scene is too dangerous during a primary survey?
Do not enter or get out quickly.
What is the AVPU scale used for?
To ascertain an initial level of consciousness.
What does the ‘A’ in AVPU stand for?
Alert.
What characterizes a patient who is categorized as ‘Voice’ in the AVPU scale?
They respond to voice but do not open their eyes spontaneously.
What does a ‘Pain’ response indicate in the AVPU scale?
The patient responds to a painful stimulus.
What does ‘Unresponsive’ mean in the context of the AVPU scale?
The patient has not reacted to voice or painful stimulus.
What happens to the airway of an unconscious patient?
The jaw becomes loose and the tongue falls back, occluding the airway.
What is the goal of the head tilt/chin lift maneuver?
To align the external auditory meatus with the sternal notch.
What is a potential risk when performing a head tilt/chin lift on a spinal patient?
Injury to the spinal column.
What are airway adjuncts?
Devices that maintain an open airway without the need for a paramedic to remain in contact with the patient.
What does ventilation describe?
A patient’s respiratory rate and the depth of those breaths.
What is ‘Apnoea’?
Patients who are not breathing.
What does ‘Dyspnea’ refer to?
Patients with difficulty breathing.
What is ‘Bradypnoea’?
Slow respiration rate.
What is ‘Tachypnoea’?
Rapid respiration rate.
What is the risk of squeezing a ventilation bag too deeply?
Air may be delivered to the stomach.
Why is it important to avoid inflating the stomach during ventilation?
It can increase intra-thoracic pressure and complicate airway management.
What is required for a patient with apnoea?
Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (IPPV) using a bag valve mask.
