Airway Management and Ventilation Flashcards
6 cards from real ITLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Airway Management and Ventilation flashcards as text
What is the most reliable method to confirm correct endotracheal tube placement in the field?
Answer: Continuous waveform capnography
Continuous waveform capnography is the gold standard for confirming and monitoring endotracheal tube placement, as it provides real-time verification of exhaled CO2 from the lungs.
A trauma patient with an open neck wound develops progressive subcutaneous emphysema and respiratory distress. What airway complication should be suspected?
Answer: Tracheal or bronchial disruption
Progressive subcutaneous emphysema from a neck wound combined with respiratory distress suggests tracheal or bronchial disruption, allowing air to dissect into subcutaneous tissues.
When performing suctioning of a trauma patient's airway, what is the maximum recommended duration for each suction attempt?
Answer: 15 seconds
Suctioning should be limited to 15 seconds per attempt to minimize hypoxia, as suctioning removes air as well as fluid from the airway.
A patient with severe maxillofacial trauma has blood continuously pooling in the oropharynx despite repeated suctioning. What airway management strategy is most appropriate?
Answer: Perform a surgical cricothyrotomy for definitive airway control
When continuous oral bleeding overwhelms suctioning capacity and threatens the airway, a surgical cricothyrotomy provides a definitive airway below the level of hemorrhage, bypassing the compromised upper airway entirely.
What is the appropriate tidal volume when ventilating an adult trauma patient with a bag-valve-mask?
Answer: 500-600 mL per breath
The recommended tidal volume for BVM ventilation in adults is approximately 500-600 mL (6-7 mL/kg), providing adequate gas exchange while minimizing gastric insufflation and barotrauma risk.
Which anatomical landmark is used to identify the correct site for needle cricothyrotomy?
Answer: The cricothyroid membrane between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages
The cricothyroid membrane, located between the inferior border of the thyroid cartilage and the superior border of the cricoid cartilage, is the landmark for both needle and surgical cricothyrotomy.