GP Predisposing Activity
Foundations of Respiratory Management (FORM)

Please complete course pre-reading and answer the following questions.

Any questions, please email EMET@calvary-act.com.au

Needle decompression at the 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line is an easy and reliable method.

4th or 5th Intercostal space, just anterior to mid axillary line is an appropriate site for needle decompression.

Finger thoracostomy is a reliable method of decompression.

Decompression of a pneumothorax will always require a chest drain to be placed.

Bilateral finger thoracostomy may be an appropriate procedure in a traumatic arrest to ensure there is no tension pneumothorax.

While sometimes necessary, intubating and ventilating a patient with severe asthma can be difficult to manage.

Non-invasive ventilation is contra-indicated in management of severe asthma.

While theophyllines many have a role in asthma, they have a narrow therapeutic window and many physicians are not familiar with administering them.

Magnesium has few side effects and should be used in severe asthma.

Ketamine has bronchodilating action.

The patient should be paralyzed continuously.

Respiratory rate should be set at 10 breaths per minute.

When ventilating a patient with severe asthma it may be necessary to allow oxygen levels to drop
below normal limits.

When ventilating a patient with severe asthma it may be necessary to allow CO2 levels to drop below
normal limits.

Hand bag the patient when trouble shooting a ventilator.

Non-invasive ventilation can be used in many respiratory presentations including COPD and Acute Pulmonary Oedema

Typical settings for a patient with COPD could be iPap12, ePAP6 and FiO2 40%

Non-invasive ventilation could be used to assist with extubating patients in ICU

If a patient is not spontaneously breathing non-invasive ventilation can be safely used as long as the back-up rate is set appropriately

Non-invasive ventilation can be uncomfortable and frightening for patients