In management of airway and breathing, what should you always assess after securing an airway?

In management of airway and breathing, what should you always assess after securing an airway?

• A. Skin color and capillary refill
• B. Breath sounds and chest rise
• C. Level of consciousness
• D. Pulse and blood pressure

Answer: (B)

After securing an airway, assessing breath sounds and chest rise is critical for several reasons. First, breath sounds provide immediate feedback on the adequacy of ventilation. By auscultating the lungs, you can identify any potential issues, such as decreased breath sounds that may suggest pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or bronchial obstruction. Furthermore, evaluating chest rise is essential to confirm effective mechanical ventilation and ensure that air is properly entering both lungs. Observing symmetrical chest rise indicates that air is being distributed evenly, while asymmetrical rise may signal additional complications that require immediate intervention. In contrast, while monitoring skin color and capillary refill, level of consciousness, and vital signs like pulse and blood pressure is important for overall patient assessment, these parameters do not provide the immediate insights required to verify the effectiveness of the airway management. After securing the airway, the primary concern is to ensure that the patient is adequately ventilating and oxygenating. Therefore, the assessment of breath sounds and chest rise directly addresses the core objectives of airway management.

After securing an airway, assessing breath sounds and chest rise is critical for several reasons. First, breath sounds provide immediate feedback on the adequacy of ventilation. By auscultating the lungs, you can identify any potential issues, such as decreased breath sounds that may suggest pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or bronchial obstruction.

Furthermore, evaluating chest rise is essential to confirm effective mechanical ventilation and ensure that air is properly entering both lungs. Observing symmetrical chest rise indicates that air is being distributed evenly, while asymmetrical rise may signal additional complications that require immediate intervention.

In contrast, while monitoring skin color and capillary refill, level of consciousness, and vital signs like pulse and blood pressure is important for overall patient assessment, these parameters do not provide the immediate insights required to verify the effectiveness of the airway management. After securing the airway, the primary concern is to ensure that the patient is adequately ventilating and oxygenating. Therefore, the assessment of breath sounds and chest rise directly addresses the core objectives of airway management.