Episode 58: Airway Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Tonya Piehl's lecture notes provide details essential aspects of airway maintenance for patients with endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes. It covers securing the tube, confirming its proper placement via chest x-ray, and facilitating patient communication. Maintaining adequate humidification and minimizing infection risks are key concerns. The document addresses cuff pressure management to prevent tracheal damage, highlighting the use of high-volume, low-pressure cuffs, but cautioning that over-inflation could result in trauma. Finally, it outlines troubleshooting strategies for common airway emergencies such as tube obstruction, cuff leaks, and accidental extubation, along with providing solutions for each scenario.

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