A newly intubated patient is assessed with a color-changing CO2 ...

[vHAUNG6011]

A newly intubated patient is assessed with a color-changing CO2 detection device. The presence of CO2 is confirmed, as is moisture on exhalation. However, auscultation reveals decreased breath sounds on the right side.
 
  This problem can be corrected by doing which of the following?
  a. Extubate and use a laryngeal mask airway.
  b. Order a chest radiograph to determine what is happening.
  c. Reposition the endotracheal tube, and auscultate again.
  d. Push the tube in farther, and listen for bi-lateral breath sounds.

Question 2

A blind nasal intubation is facilitated by which of the following patient positions?
 
  a. Chin lift c. Neutral head
  b. Jaw thrust d. Extreme head

[mjenn52]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
This problem is caused by intubation of the right mainstem airway. The patient's endotracheal tube must be repositioned by suctioning the pharynx, deflating the cuff, pulling the endotracheal tube back slightly, reinflating the cuff, then auscultating for bilateral breath sounds.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Instead of the sniffing position, a neutral or slightly flexed head position is optimal for blind na-sal intubation. Jaw thrust and chin lift are used for patients with cervical spine injuries. An ex-treme head position would not facilitate either a nasal intubation or an oral intubation.