A spontaneously breathing post-CVA patient has developed right lower lobe infiltrates on chest x-ray and has coarse breath sounds. When the respiratory therapist attempts to suction the patient by the nasotracheal route, she notes a gag reflex is present but the patient does not cough. Watery secretions are aspirated through the suction catheter. The therapist should
A. insert an oral endotracheal tube.
B. reposition the patient to a sniffing position.
C. change to a larger suction catheter.
D. insert an oropharyngeal airway.
Answer: B. reposition the patient to a sniffing position.
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