A Patient on a Ventilator Presents as Cyanotic and Listless

question 66

Multiple Choice

A patient on a ventilator presents as cyanotic and listless. Alarms are sounding. Your immediate action would be to:

• A) determine if the vent is a negative or positive pressure type.
• B) establish what type of alarm is sounding.
• C) disconnect the ventilator and start positive pressure ventilation.
• D) stop the ventilator and obtain breath sounds.

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Definitions:

Flexion

The movement that decreases the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow or knee.

Tactile Fremitus

The vibration felt on the chest wall when a person speaks, useful in medical examination to assess lung health.

Egophony

A change in the voice sound heard when auscultating the lungs with a stethoscope, often indicative of lung pathology.

Crepitus

A medical term used to describe the grating, crackling or popping sounds and sensations experienced under the skin and joints or a crackling sensation due to the presence of air in the subcutaneous tissue.