Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has an upper airway obstruction and an emergency needle cricothyrotomy must be performed. After penetration of the cricothyroid membrane and confirmation of the position of the incision (pulling back the syringe and watching air enter signifies entrance to trachea), what is the next step?

Answer 1

Following the confirmation of the incision's position in a needle cricothyrotomy, the next step is to secure the needle or catheter and attach it to an oxygen source, then monitor the patient for effective oxygenation and prepare for possible further airway management, such as endotracheal intubation.

Step-by-step explanation:

After the nurse has performed an emergency needle cricothyrotomy and confirmed the incision's position by pulling back the syringe to see air enter, signifying entrance to the trachea, the next step is to secure the needle or catheter in place to ensure that it does not move and obstruct the airway.

This is typically followed by attaching the needle or catheter to an oxygen source, with a ventilation bag if available, to provide airflow into the lungs. The healthcare provider should then monitor the client for effective oxygenation and ventilation, and be prepared for further airway management, such as endotracheal intubation, if it becomes necessary and when conditions allow. Timely and effective airway management is critical for patient outcomes.