AIRWAY MANAGEMENT/RESPIRATORY EMERGENCIES TEST
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1) What is the definitive way to confirm proper advanced airway placement? -- Answer
✔✔ capnography
2) What is the goal of EtCO2 in a patient with an advanced airway? -- Answer ✔✔ 35-
45 mmHg for the perfusing patient, 20-45 mmHg for the non-perfusing patient, and
35-40 mmHg for closed head injury
3) Explain what it means when your EtCO2 numbers are low. -- Answer ✔✔ indicates
hypoperfusion or hyperventilation
4) Can you do anything to increase EtCO2 if it is low? -- Answer ✔✔ attempt to slow
down the patient's ventilation rate
5) Explain what it means when your EtCO2 numbers are continuously high. -- Answer
✔✔ indicates impending respiratory failure and arrest
6) Can you do anything to decrease EtCO2 if it is high? -- Answer ✔✔ give the patient
oxygen or assist ventilations if they are becoming fatigued
, 7) Explain what it means when you have a sudden sustained increase in EtCO2? --
Answer ✔✔ can indicate ROSC in cardiac arrest
8) What is your reaction to a sudden increase in EtCO2? -- Answer ✔✔ pause
compressions and check for a pulse
9) How often should you check your advanced airway placement? -- Answer ✔✔ every
5 minutes, after a decrease in capnography, and after every patient move
10) Do you stop chest compressions to place an advanced airway? -- Answer ✔✔ no
11) Outline the procedure you would follow if you lose waveform capnography on the
LP15. -- Answer ✔✔ check to make sure it is plugged in, check airway placement
12) Explain the failed airway model in the protocol. -- Answer ✔✔ -one attempt without
bougie, one attempt with bougie, then switch to King
-if ventilation is effective with NPA/OPA, transport to the closest facility
-if ventilation is effective with King, may transport <30 mins away
-if cricothyrotomy is effective, transport to most appropriate facility, and if
ineffective, transport to closest facility
-if ventilation is NOT effective with a King, remove and place an OPA/NPA and
transport to the closest facility if ventilation is effective
-if OPA/NPA are NOT effective, cricothyrotomy and transport as above
13) What does PEEP do when applied to a patient? -- Answer ✔✔ keeps airway pressure
above atmospheric pressure at the end of expiration by exerting pressure that
opposes passive lung emptying
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1) What is the definitive way to confirm proper advanced airway placement? -- Answer
✔✔ capnography
2) What is the goal of EtCO2 in a patient with an advanced airway? -- Answer ✔✔ 35-
45 mmHg for the perfusing patient, 20-45 mmHg for the non-perfusing patient, and
35-40 mmHg for closed head injury
3) Explain what it means when your EtCO2 numbers are low. -- Answer ✔✔ indicates
hypoperfusion or hyperventilation
4) Can you do anything to increase EtCO2 if it is low? -- Answer ✔✔ attempt to slow
down the patient's ventilation rate
5) Explain what it means when your EtCO2 numbers are continuously high. -- Answer
✔✔ indicates impending respiratory failure and arrest
6) Can you do anything to decrease EtCO2 if it is high? -- Answer ✔✔ give the patient
oxygen or assist ventilations if they are becoming fatigued
, 7) Explain what it means when you have a sudden sustained increase in EtCO2? --
Answer ✔✔ can indicate ROSC in cardiac arrest
8) What is your reaction to a sudden increase in EtCO2? -- Answer ✔✔ pause
compressions and check for a pulse
9) How often should you check your advanced airway placement? -- Answer ✔✔ every
5 minutes, after a decrease in capnography, and after every patient move
10) Do you stop chest compressions to place an advanced airway? -- Answer ✔✔ no
11) Outline the procedure you would follow if you lose waveform capnography on the
LP15. -- Answer ✔✔ check to make sure it is plugged in, check airway placement
12) Explain the failed airway model in the protocol. -- Answer ✔✔ -one attempt without
bougie, one attempt with bougie, then switch to King
-if ventilation is effective with NPA/OPA, transport to the closest facility
-if ventilation is effective with King, may transport <30 mins away
-if cricothyrotomy is effective, transport to most appropriate facility, and if
ineffective, transport to closest facility
-if ventilation is NOT effective with a King, remove and place an OPA/NPA and
transport to the closest facility if ventilation is effective
-if OPA/NPA are NOT effective, cricothyrotomy and transport as above
13) What does PEEP do when applied to a patient? -- Answer ✔✔ keeps airway pressure
above atmospheric pressure at the end of expiration by exerting pressure that
opposes passive lung emptying
