Question

A patient with copious amounts of secretions has required nasotracheal suctioning for the past 36 hours and has now developed mild epistaxis. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend?

1) Insert a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) to facilitate suctioning.
2) Discontinue nasotracheal suctioning for 24 hours and reassess the patient.
3) Insert a nasopharyngeal airway after bleeding has been controlled.
4) Insert an oral endotracheal tube to allow for better airway access.

Answer 1

The respiratory therapist should recommend to discontinue nasotracheal suctioning for 24 hours and reassess the patient, as copious secretions and mild epistaxis indicate possible trauma to the nasal passages. This will allow time for the airway to heal and determine if further suctioning is necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

The respiratory therapist should recommend option 2) Discontinue nasotracheal suctioning for 24 hours and reassess the patient.

The patient's copious secretions and development of mild epistaxis indicate that the nasotracheal suctioning may be causing trauma to the nasal passages. By discontinuing the suctioning for 24 hours, the therapist can allow the patient's nasal passages to heal and then reassess the need for further suctioning.

This recommendation is supported by the fact that nasotracheal suctioning can lead to complications such as damage to the nasal mucosa, bleeding, and infection. Therefore, giving the patient's airway time to recover and reassessing their condition is the appropriate course of action.