The Airway Management section of the AHA Emergency Department (ED) ACLS algorithm is one of the most important, and it can be difficult to know what to do when someone is choking or has another airway emergency.
We will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to manage an airway emergency, as well as some tips for avoiding common mistakes.
In this blog post, we will discuss the best strategies for saving lives in the Emergency Department setting.
The following is a scenario in which you would use the ED adult respiratory arrest Megacode:
You are working the day shift in an emergency department. You are asked to see a new patient in your bay. A bystander called 911 after finding a man unconscious in a ditch.
Demonstrate what you would do next
The man is unconscious with mildly cyanotic lips. The paramedics placed a nasopharyngeal airway and have been trying to ventilate but have had difficulty. The paramedics also noted that there were drug paraphernalia on the scene and an empty syringe.
Airway: There is a nasopharyngeal airway present. It is being ventilated by paramedics on arrival and taken over by respiratory. The flow through the trachea is impaired by the tongue.
Breathing: Oxygenation is showing 75% with bag valve mask ventilation. The man has no spontaneous breaths.
Circulation: Blood pressure is 100/60, heart rate is 140/min, the rhythm is narrow-complex rapid tachycardia, and the pulse is present but weak.
Disability: Unresponsive to any stimuli. Pupils are dilated bilaterally at 7 mm (commonly misused drugs that dilate pupils are amphetamines, bath salts, benzodiazepines, cocaine, crystal meth, ecstasy, LSD)
Exposure: Numerous track marks are located on the man’s arms.
After assessment of the initial impression and primary assessment, the man’s oxygen continues to decline and his heart rate increases.
What are your next actions?
What are your next actions?
The man is stable and oxygen saturation is normal. What are your next steps?
Signs and Symptoms: Signs and symptoms are improving, heart rate has decreased to 90 bpm normal sinus rhythm; however, no spontaneous breathing is noted.
Allergies: Unknown if there are any allergies.
Medications: Unknown if there are any medications.
Past Medical History: Unknown if there is any past medical history.
Last Meal, Liquid Consumed: Unknown when the last meal and liquid were consumed.
Events: No events were noted outside of what was discussed with the paramedic team.
What are your text interventions?
You will begin the transfer to the unit. Your scenario has concluded.
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