Initiation and Modification of Initiation and Modification of Therapeutic ProceduresTherapeutic Procedures

Recommend Modifications in the Respiratory Care Plan

Modifying Respiratory Care Plan

Recommending Changes in Bronchial Hygiene Therapy

Conditions where modifications would be appropriate Preexisting conditions (e.g. increased ICP) Recent procedures (e.g. surgery) Patient demographics (e.g. age) Adverse reaction to therapy ( e.g. hypoxemia)

Modifications may include Altering the duration of therapy Altering the positions used Using a different bronchial hygiene strategy

Bronchial Hygiene Modification Shorten the duration for a given postural drainage position

for patients who become anxious or otherwise do not tolerate the procedure.

Avoid a head-down position for patients with elevated ICP and instead rotate the patient laterally to approximate the position as closely as possible.

Discourage strenuous coughing for stroke patients or those otherwise predisposed to increased ICP. Instead, instruct these patients to use a “huff cough or sit them up until the cough subsides.

If you think a patient might become hypoxemic during the procedure, provide appropriate supplemental O2 and monitor the SpO2 throughout the procedure.

If bronchospasm occurs, stop therapy, return patient to original position monitor him or her closely, administer supplemental O2, contact physician, and recommend bronchodilators.

If complications or adverse events occur during the therapy (e.g. hypoxemia, arrhythmias), stop the therapy, return the patient to the original position, monitor him or her closely, administer oxygen as necessary, and promptly contact the physician.

Recommending Changes in Patient Positioning Proper positioning can optimize patient care by enhancing

oxygenation and ventilation, assisting with secretion removal and other therapeutic procedures, as well as facilitating diagnostic procedures.

Recommending Insertion and/or Modifications of Artificial Airways

Based on patient assessment and the major indications for insertion of the various forms of artificial airways (oro- and nasopharyngeal airways, LMA, oral and nasal ET tubes, cuffed/unfenestrated and uncuffed/fenestrated tracheostomy tubes, tracheostomy button)

Recommending Treatment of a Suspected Pneumothorax Placing the patient on 100% oxygen therapy Ordering a stat chest x-ray Doing a needle decompression in the appropriate side if

the patient’s condition becomes life threatening. Change ventilator settings to minimize peak inspiratory

airway pressures and barotrauma (e.g. decrease or eliminate PEEP, decrease flow, or lower Vt)

Recommending Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation and Extubation Assess patient readiness

Evidence for some reversal of the underlying cause of respiratory failure Adequate oxygenation, e.g.1. PaO2/FiO2 > 150 – 2002. PEEP </= 5 – 8 cm H2O3. FIO2 </= 0.4 – 0.5 pH >/= 7.25 Hemodynamic stability (no myocardial ischemia or significant hypotension) The capability to initiate an inspiratory effort

Interpret weaning parameters

Assess parameters collectively; if most or all of them are favorable, weaning should be recommended

A variety of weaning methods have been deemed effective in a clinical setting

One of the most widely accepted methods involves using pressure support ventilation (PSV) to obtain a VT, as tolerated by the patient, decreased to a minimum level of 5-6 cm H2O

Unwanted physiological changes, such as a respiratory rate greater than 30 or a heart rate greater than 120-140, may signal that the patient is not tolerating the weaning process and should be returned to full ventilatory support

If the patient tolerates a “T-piece trial” and has good airway protective reflexes, you should recommend that the patient also be extubated

Once a patient is extubated, you should recommend that the patient be placed on an oxygen-delivery device with an FiO2 slightly higher (10% increase in FiO2) than that which he or she was on during mechanical ventilation.

Common Errors to Avoid on the Common Errors to Avoid on the ExamExam

When performing postural drainage, avoid recommending a head-down position for patients with increased ICP and instead rotate the patient laterally to approximate the desired position.

Never recommend sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, to relieve pain. These drugs are often helpful in decreasing anxiety but don’t alleviate pain.

Never recommend weaning a patient from mechancal ventilation who is hemodynamically compromised, has unstable vital signs, or requires FiO2s in excess of 0.50. – 0.60 or PEEP level greater than 10 cm H2O

Never attempt to perform CPR on a patient who is in a bed unless a “compression board” is placed under their back or the bed is in “CPR” mode

More Common Errors to Avoid on More Common Errors to Avoid on the Examthe Exam

Never recommend prophylactic or maintenance medications such as chromolyn sodium or long acting beta-agonist bronchodilators such as salmeterol for patients experiencing a severe asthmatic episode or in status asthmaticus.

To prevent oxygen-induced hypoventilation, never recommend FiO2 much above 0.28 for COPD patients suspected of also being CO2 retainers.

Never recommend PEEP levels in excess of 5 cm H2O for ventilator patients who are hemodynamically unstable or at risk for developing a pneumothorax.

Never recommend 1:1 or inverse I:E ratios for mechanically ventilated patients who are not sedated or who are hemodynamically unstable.

More Common Errors to Avoid on More Common Errors to Avoid on the Examthe Exam

Never initiate low inspiratory flows or short expiratory times on ventilator patients who are at risk for air trapping and auto-PEEP.

Never recommend a conventional ventilator with iron-based metals and microprocessors for use in an MRI room. Instead, recommend a pneumatically powered and controlled ventilator.

Never simply recommend sedation for patient-ventilator asynchrony before ruling out other patient causes such as bronchospasm, airway obstruction and pneumothorax, or ventilator-related causes such as insufficient inspiratory air flow or inappropriate pressure support.

Never set a low-pressure (disconnect) alarm much below 5-8 cm H2O.

Never use a standard high-compliance circuit for neonates or young pediatric patients.

Exam Sure Bets Exam Sure Bets Always stop postural drainage in the head-down

position if the patient begins to cough vigorously. Sit up and stabilize the patient before continuing with therapy.

To facilitate a difficult intubation, always consider recommending a depolarizing paralyzing agent such as succinylcholine (Anectine), which has a rapid onset and short duration.

Always recommend rapid-sequence intubation for patients with clinical signs of impending respiratory failure or inadequate airway protection.

Always consider a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) when an immediate intubation is indicated but not easily achievable or in the presence of a difficult airway.

More Exam Sure Bets More Exam Sure Bets Always recommend the use of the correct-size ET tube

when assisting with intubation. In general, recommend the following tube sizes: average adult male: 8.0 – 9.0; average 16-year-old: 7.0; 3-year-old: 4.5 mm (uncuffed).

Always recommend placing a spontaneous-breathing patient who is dyspneic in a Fowler’s or high-Fowler’s position, to help promote chest excursion and lung expansion.

Always recommend a fast-acting adrenergic bronchodilator for a patient with severe bronchospasm associated with asthma or a similar condition.

For patients with unstable or high minute ventilation who need a low to moderate FiO2 (0.24 – 0.50), always recommend a high-flow device such as an air-entrainment mask.

More Exam Sure Bets More Exam Sure Bets For patient-ventilator asynchrony, always consider and

recommend measures to address both patient-related causes, such as airway obstruction and anxiety, as well as machine-related causes, such as inappropriate trigger sensitivity or inspiratory flow.

Always recommend increasing PEEP above 5-10 cm H2O for ventilator patients who are hemodynamically stable but hypoxemic despite an FiO2 in excess of 0.50 – 0.60.

Always recommend increasing either the P (IPAP-EPAP) or the respiratory rate when seeking to increase the minute ventilation for a patient on BiPAP.

Always ensure that there is appropriate full ventilatory support backup before recommending that a patient be placed on a weaning mode, such as SIMV with pressure support, CPAP or pressure support alone.

More Exam Sure Bets More Exam Sure Bets Always consider recommending pressure-targeted mode or

dual mode of ventilation when attempting to reduce a ventilator patient’s peak and/or mean airway pressure.

When a patient with ARDS does not respond well to conventional volume and pressure modes of ventilation, consider recommending high-frequency oscillation or jet ventilation.

When responding to a ventilator alarm, always start by checking patient causes such as disconnect or airway leak (low pressure) or bronchospasm or secretions (high pressure).

Always disconnect a patient from the ventilator and manually ventilate him or her with 100% oxygen if a ventilator alarm can not be fixed within 15 – 30 seconds, especially if the patient is in distress.

Always insert an oropharyngeal airway if you are unable to ventilate a patient with any bag-valve-mask device.

Reference:Reference:

Certified Respiratory Therapist Exam Review Guide, Craig Scanlon, Albert Heuer, and Louis SinopoliJones and Bartlett Publishers