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Continuing Professional Development: Vital airway management skills when treating a pulmonary embolism

02 January 2018
Features
02 January 2018
Volume 10 · Issue 1

Abstract

Overview

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is an occlusion of the pulmonary artery that occurs because of a thrombus originating from a deep vein thrombosis. In this CPD module, we will highlight key steps in performing respiratory assessment of a patient with PE, and outline paramedic treatment and management of this condition. A PE results in ventilation with a reduced perfusion. Early intervention to maintain the airway and facilitate oxygen delivery can reduce PE-associated mortality.

After completing this module, the paramedic will be able to:

If you would like to send feedback, please email jpp@markallengroup.com

A 999 call was received for a 54-year-old female collapsed in a public toilet, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in progress. On arrival, you and a colleague are met with a patient who is unresponsive and a security guard performing CPR.

After assessing the patient, your colleague immobilises the c-spine. The patient is unresponsive to voice and stimuli, the airway is clear and unobstructed, but the respiratory rate is 0 breaths per minute, with no rise and fall of the chest for 10 seconds.

After asking the security guard to continue compressions at a rate of 30 compressions to 2 inflations, you secure the airway using a size three supraglottic airway device (i-gel) and a bag-valve mask, attached to 100% O2.

Your colleague applies the defibrillator patches and you note the presence of electrical activity; you find that the patient has a pulse, at a rate of 68 beats per minute. Chest compressions are discontinued and you continue ventilating the patient once every 6 seconds.

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