Question

During your initial attempt to ventilate an unresponsive apneic patient, you meet resistance and do not see the patient's chest rise. You should _________.

1) Continue attempting to ventilate the patient
2) Stop attempting to ventilate and reassess the airway
3) Administer a medication to relax the patient's airway
4) Perform a tracheostomy

Answer 1

When meeting resistance during initial ventilation efforts and seeing no chest rise, halt ventilation attempts and reassess the airway to address possible obstructions before proceeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

During your initial attempt to ventilate an unresponsive apneic patient, and you meet resistance and do not see the patient's chest rise, you should stop attempting to ventilate and reassess the airway. This could be an indication of an obstruction or a problem with the airway that must be addressed before effective ventilation can be provided. Continuing to attempt to ventilate without correcting the underlying issue could cause further harm to the patient. Procedures like endotracheal intubation may be necessary to maintain an open airway, especially if a blockage is suspected, and in extreme cases where other methods fail, advanced procedures like a tracheostomy might be considered by qualified personnel.