Question

You are working a respiratory arrest patient and have just successfully placed a combi-tube in your apneic patient. What should you do if the chest fails to rise appropriately and gastric sounds are present?

A. Secure tube, and ventilate through tube #1
B. Confirm placement with CO2 detector before ventilating through tube #1
C. Remove the BVM from tube #1 and ventilate through tube #2
D. Pull the combi-tube back approximately 2 cm and reassess

Answer 1

If the chest fails to rise appropriately and gastric sounds are present after placing a combi-tube, the correct action is to pull the tube back approximately 2 cm and reassess.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the chest fails to rise appropriately and gastric sounds are present after successfully placing a combi-tube in an apneic patient, the correct course of action is to pull the combi-tube back approximately 2 cm and reassess. This is because the presence of gastric sounds suggests that the tube may be in the esophagus rather than the trachea. By pulling the tube back slightly, you can correct the placement and ensure proper ventilation.