Airway Management

You are called to assist with the emergency care of a 45 year-old gentleman who underwent an urgent surgical tracheostomy two days previously for airway obstruction due to laryngeal cancer. The tracheostomy was performed because of a failed intubation performed by an experienced anaesthetist. On your arrival, the patient had a respiratory rate of 35 breaths per minute, a see-saw respiratory pattern and SaO2 of 86% on FiO2 0.5. Which is/are the best management option/s?:
a) Deflate the cuff of the tracheostomy and reposition the tracheostomy tube: TRUE/FALSE.
b) Provide oxygen via facemask and via tracheostomy tube: TRUE/FALSE.
c) Assess tracheostomy patency removing the inner tube: TRUE/FALSE.
d) Remove the tracheostomy tube and re – intubate in a standard fashion: TRUE/FALSE.

ALS Ventilation

Regarding ventilation in advanced life support:

A. Two rescuers using the bag – valve – mask device will be more effective than one:

B. Mouth – to – mask ventilation usually provides lower tidal volume than bag – valve – mask devices:

C. Ordinary dentures should always be removed before ventilating a patient:

D. You should position yourself at the side of the patient´s head for optimal performance: