A respiratory therapist notices that a semiconscious patient is not moving enough air and has a problem coughing up mucus. An attempt to insert an oropharyngeal airway is unsuccessful be-cause the patient is struggling
Which of the following is the most appropriate action?
a. Perform a tracheostomy.
b. Insert a Berman airway.
c. Use a nasopharyngeal airway.
d. Sedate the patient, and insert the oropha-ryngeal airway.
ANS: C
If the patient struggles to expel an oropharyngeal airway, attempts at insertion should be aban-doned and an improved head position or a nasopharyngeal airway should be used to open the upper airway. The nasopharyngeal airway will also facilitate nasotracheal suction to evacuate ex-cess mucus in the airways. A tracheostomy is not appropriate in this situation because it is too invasive. A Berman airway is another type of oropharyngeal airway that this kind of patient will not be able to tolerate. Sedation of the patient is not appropriate at this time.
You might also like to view...
A pink colony on MAC grew from an abdominal wound. The biochemical reactions included:
TSI A/A H2S 37?C SIM +/—/+ 25?C SIM +/—/+ MR/VP +/— Citrate + PAD — Urea — ONPG + Arginine + Lysine — Ornithine — The organism identified is A) serologically similar to Salmonella spp. B) able to produce only a small amount of H2S in TSI. C) characterized by the production of the Vi antigen. D) often found hiding in the gallbladder in carriers.
Match the legislation with the appropriate description.
A. Part of Roosevelt's "New Deal" social program B. Made the most sweeping changes to Medicare since its inception by affording Medicare beneficiaries a prescription drug benefit C. Established a new method of Medicare physician reimbursement effective in 1992 D. Extended and expanded the SCHIP E. Provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children F. To reduce Medicare spending, it reduced payments to health service providers G. Separated the provision of cash assistance from the provision of Medicaid coverage