Author Question: Which of the following statements are true about the potential for aspiration in patients with ... (Read 31 times)

yoooooman · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

Which of the following statements are true about the potential for aspiration in patients with cuffed tracheal tubes?

1. Periodic oropharyngeal suctioning can help to minimize aspiration.
2. Aspiration is least likely in spontaneously breathing patients.
3. The methylene blue test can help detect leakage-type aspiration.
4. Aspiration is more likely with tracheostomy tubes than with endotracheal tubes.
a. 3 only
b. 1, 2, and 3 only
c. 2 and 4 only
d. 1, 3, and 4 only

Question 2

What is the maximum recommended range for tracheal tube cuff pressures?

a. 15 to 20 mm Hg
b. 20 to 25 mm Hg
c. 25 to 30 mm Hg
d. 30 to 35 mm Hg

ultraflyy23 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Aspiration is reported to be more common in spontaneously breathing patients than in those pa-tients receiving positive-pressure ventilation. This may be due to the movement of pharyngeal secretions around the cuff during the negative-pressure phase of a spontaneous inspiration.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The goal is to keep cuff pressures below the tracheal mucosal capillary perfusion pressure, esti-mated to range between 20 and 25 mm Hg to help minimize aspiration.