While providing ventilations to a patient, you are unable to see chest rise. What should you do?

While providing ventilations to a patient, you are unable to see chest rise. What should you do?

• A. Reposition the patient's head
• B. Increase ventilation pressure
• C. Wait for a few seconds
• D. Insert an advanced airway

Answer: (A)

When providing ventilations to a patient and not observing chest rise, repositioning the patient's head is often the most appropriate initial action. This technique is critical because improper positioning can result in airway obstruction, especially if the patient's head is tilted in a way that closes off the airway, such as with excessive neck extension or flexion. By repositioning the head, usually by performing the proper "sniffing" position or chin lift/jaw thrust, you can help ensure that the airway is open and that positive pressure from ventilations is effectively delivered into the lungs. This method is typically performed before considering other interventions, as it can often resolve the issue of inadequate ventilation due to positional factors. Ensuring a patent airway is foundational to successful ventilation. Other actions, such as increasing ventilation pressure, may only serve to exacerbate the problem without addressing the underlying cause, and waiting could jeopardize the patient's condition by delaying necessary care. Meanwhile, inserting an advanced airway might be reserved for more severe situations where basic airway management fails after repositioning has been attempted. Therefore, the head repositioning approach aligns with the initial steps of airway management in emergency scenarios.

When providing ventilations to a patient and not observing chest rise, repositioning the patient's head is often the most appropriate initial action. This technique is critical because improper positioning can result in airway obstruction, especially if the patient's head is tilted in a way that closes off the airway, such as with excessive neck extension or flexion. By repositioning the head, usually by performing the proper "sniffing" position or chin lift/jaw thrust, you can help ensure that the airway is open and that positive pressure from ventilations is effectively delivered into the lungs.

This method is typically performed before considering other interventions, as it can often resolve the issue of inadequate ventilation due to positional factors. Ensuring a patent airway is foundational to successful ventilation.

Other actions, such as increasing ventilation pressure, may only serve to exacerbate the problem without addressing the underlying cause, and waiting could jeopardize the patient's condition by delaying necessary care. Meanwhile, inserting an advanced airway might be reserved for more severe situations where basic airway management fails after repositioning has been attempted. Therefore, the head repositioning approach aligns with the initial steps of airway management in emergency scenarios.