Question

You have inserted an oral airway and are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-valve mask. She suddenly begins regurgitating large amounts of vomit. You should:

a) perform a finger sweep of her mouth.
b) insert a nasal airway and then suction her mouth.
c) roll her onto her side and remove the oral airway.
d) remove the oral airway and suction her oropharynx.

Answer 1

To address regurgitation in an apneic patient with an oral airway, remove the airway and suction the oropharynx to prevent aspiration and maintain ventilation.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you have inserted an oral airway and are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-valve mask and she suddenly begins regurgitating large amounts of vomit, you should remove the oral airway and suction her oropharynx. This is critical to prevent aspiration, which can lead to a life-threatening situation where vomit is inhaled into the lungs. Here are the steps to follow in this emergency:

1. Quickly remove the oral airway.
2. Turn the patient's head to the side to help drain fluids.
3. Use a suction device to clear vomit and secretions from her oropharynx and mouth.

Remember, maintaining the airway is of utmost importance. Suctioning the oropharynx clears the airway of vomit to allow for effective ventilation. If an obstruction is present due to regurgitation and cannot be cleared with suctioning, you may need to perform additional steps such as the Heimlich maneuver as noted in Figure 16.2.9. Always follow your training guidelines and be prepared to call for emergency medical care if necessary.