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Paramedic Unit Exam Study Guide
Topic: Airway, Ventilation and Respiratory
Learn the facts:
● Anatomy & physiology of the airway:
- Upper airway: includes the structures superior to and inclusive of the larynx.
(Mouth and nose, nasopharynx and oropharynx and ends at the vocal cords).
- Passage of air: First it enters through the mouth or nose where it is
warmed/humidified. It also passes by the cilia which trap foreign particles so that
they do not make it to the lungs and cause infection. Secondly, the air passes
between the tongue and the palates, through the pharynx, larynx, trachea where it
then moves through the bronchi and bronchioles till the alveoli.
- Lower airway: defined as anything inferior to the vocal cords which are housed in
the larynx - trachea, left and right mainstem bronchus, alveoli and bronchioles
● Conditions listed in index
● Glossary words
● Medical terms
● Pathophysiology
Understand the concepts:
● Apneustic breathing: an ominous sign of brainstem injury, marked by prolonged inhalation
followed by short ineffective exhalation.
● Characteristics of Cystic Fibrosis: hereditary disease affecting the respiratory and
digestive systems. People with CF produce large amounts of thick mucus in the
respiratory and digestive tracts. CF makes them susceptible to chronic respiratory
infection.
● Complications of ET Tube placement: equipment malfunction, teeth breakage, tube
misplacement, hypoxia induced during duration of time the pt is not being ventilated for
procedure to occur. DOPE mnemonic: displacement, obstruction, pneumothorax, and
equipment.
● Complications of hyperventilation: respiratory alkalosis, increased ICP, the patient may
present with fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, dyspnea, chest pain and numbness/tingling
around the mouth, hands and feet. Pt may also experience carpopedal spasms.
● Complications of intubating a burned patient: Laryngeal edema can develop with alarming
speed, along with eventual laryngospasm. Early endotracheal (ET) intubation could be
lifesaving.
● Complications of toxic inhalation: It can cause pain, inflammation or destruction of
pulmonary tissues. Significant inhalations can affect the ability of alveoli to exchange
oxygen, thus resulting in hypoxemia. Pathophys: causes can be superheated air, toxic
products of combustion, chemical irritants and inhalation of steam. Each of these agents
can cause obstruction of the upper airway due to edema and laryngospasm, in such cases
lower airway edema and bronchospasm can occur.
This study source was downloaded by 100000832361371 from CourseHero.com on 04-27-2022 00:24:48 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/64779563/Paramedic-Airway-Review/
Paramedic Unit Exam Study Guide
Topic: Airway, Ventilation and Respiratory
Learn the facts:
● Anatomy & physiology of the airway:
- Upper airway: includes the structures superior to and inclusive of the larynx.
(Mouth and nose, nasopharynx and oropharynx and ends at the vocal cords).
- Passage of air: First it enters through the mouth or nose where it is
warmed/humidified. It also passes by the cilia which trap foreign particles so that
they do not make it to the lungs and cause infection. Secondly, the air passes
between the tongue and the palates, through the pharynx, larynx, trachea where it
then moves through the bronchi and bronchioles till the alveoli.
- Lower airway: defined as anything inferior to the vocal cords which are housed in
the larynx - trachea, left and right mainstem bronchus, alveoli and bronchioles
● Conditions listed in index
● Glossary words
● Medical terms
● Pathophysiology
Understand the concepts:
● Apneustic breathing: an ominous sign of brainstem injury, marked by prolonged inhalation
followed by short ineffective exhalation.
● Characteristics of Cystic Fibrosis: hereditary disease affecting the respiratory and
digestive systems. People with CF produce large amounts of thick mucus in the
respiratory and digestive tracts. CF makes them susceptible to chronic respiratory
infection.
● Complications of ET Tube placement: equipment malfunction, teeth breakage, tube
misplacement, hypoxia induced during duration of time the pt is not being ventilated for
procedure to occur. DOPE mnemonic: displacement, obstruction, pneumothorax, and
equipment.
● Complications of hyperventilation: respiratory alkalosis, increased ICP, the patient may
present with fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, dyspnea, chest pain and numbness/tingling
around the mouth, hands and feet. Pt may also experience carpopedal spasms.
● Complications of intubating a burned patient: Laryngeal edema can develop with alarming
speed, along with eventual laryngospasm. Early endotracheal (ET) intubation could be
lifesaving.
● Complications of toxic inhalation: It can cause pain, inflammation or destruction of
pulmonary tissues. Significant inhalations can affect the ability of alveoli to exchange
oxygen, thus resulting in hypoxemia. Pathophys: causes can be superheated air, toxic
products of combustion, chemical irritants and inhalation of steam. Each of these agents
can cause obstruction of the upper airway due to edema and laryngospasm, in such cases
lower airway edema and bronchospasm can occur.
This study source was downloaded by 100000832361371 from CourseHero.com on 04-27-2022 00:24:48 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/64779563/Paramedic-Airway-Review/
