Airway/Breathing Guidelines
This sound, caused by an upper airway obstruction, is described as a high-pitched crowing noise.
stridor
This device, placed by EMTs only in pulseless and apneic patients, is a blind insertion airway device.
extraglottic airway (BIAD)
igels for us
This maneuver is the first step in managing an airway obstruction in a trauma patient.
jaw thrust
This medication, given sublingually in 0.4 mg doses every 5 minutes, is used to manage pulmonary edema in patients with adequate blood pressure.
nitroglycerin
This maneuver is the first intervention to encourage a patient with a partial airway obstruction to clear it.
encourage the patient to cough
This lower airway sound, heard upon expiration, is often described as a whistling or sighing noise.
wheezing
This airway adjunct is contraindicated in patients with a positive gag reflex but is used to prevent obstruction caused by the tongue.
oral airway
This maneuver, performed during intubation, involves applying pressure to the cricoid cartilage to assist with visualization of the vocal cords.
Sellick's maneuver
I'll accept cricoid pressure
This symptom is often heard as bilateral rales during auscultation in CHF patients.
fluid buildup in the lung
If a patient has a complete airway obstruction but remains conscious, this maneuver is used to attempt clearing the blockage.
abdominal thrusts
For COPD patients, this type of oxygen flow is generally maintained to prevent the risk of hypoventilation, though high flow may still be given if needed.
low-flow oxygen (less than 2 L/min)
This airway adjunct, used in patients with a gag reflex, is contraindicated in those with potential mid-face injuries.
nasal airway
When intubating a patient with suspected spinal injury, this device is recommended to maintain endotracheal tube placement.
cervical collar (c-collar)
This device helps CHF patients with adequate blood pressure improve oxygenation but should not be used in cases of untreated vomiting or hypotension.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
When ventilations fail and the patient is unresponsive, this instrument can be used under paramedic intervention to remove a foreign body.
Magill forceps
If a tracheostomy patient cannot be effectively bagged, this issue should be suspected, and alternating tracheal lavage with saline, suction, and bagging should be performed until it's resolved.
mucous plug
When a tracheostomy becomes dislodged and cannot be reinserted, this piece of equipment should be used, sized appropriately for the stoma.
endotracheal (ET) tube
When performing intubation, this monitoring tool is mandatory to confirm and continuously evaluate airway placement.
capnography
This physical finding is a hallmark symptom of severe pulmonary edema.
pink, frothy sputum
When unable to ventilate an unconscious patient with a foreign body airway obstruction, this action should be attempted after repositioning the head.
attempt ventilation again
This emergency procedure is used for high obstructed airways that cannot be cleared and involves identifying the cricoid ring for access. It requires specific training before use.
surgical cricothyrotomy
This airway intervention is indispensable for clearing fluid or particulate debris from a patient's airway but should not be used for more than 15 seconds per attempt.
suction
This specialized tool, used during intubation, facilitates tube placement by acting as a guide through the vocal cords.
bougie
When distinguishing this condition from pneumonia, it is associated with jugular venous distension, hepato-jugular reflux, and bilateral rales.
congestive heart failure (CHF)
In cases of complete airway obstruction, this procedure is performed when abdominal thrusts and attempts to visualize the obstruction fail, requiring advanced paramedic skills and prior medical control approval.
cricothyrotomy