A patient with pulmonary fibrosis comes to the emergency department with an SpO2 of 87% and a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min. The patient is unsure whether her transtracheal catheter is working properly; what is your first action?
a. Intubate her. c. Place a nasal can-nula on her.
b. Examine her for a mucus plug. d. Place a lavage cath-eter.
ANS: C
The therapist should think to place the patient on O2 to maintain her oxygenation status. Once the oxygen is running and the patient is breathing well, the therapist can examine the catheter for ob-structions.
Health Professions
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