ICU

Question 1

When we are asked why patients are on ventilators, what do you say?

Answer 1

• for airway protection

2. Ventilation

Question 2

What are the reasons for needing airway protection?

Answer 2

1. GCS<8 and stroke patients
2. Neuromuscular disorders
3. Airway obstruction- tumours, inflammation or tumour

Question 3

What are the reasons for needing ventilation?

Answer 3

1. Hypoxia PaO2<8 kPa
2. Hypercapnia PaCO2>6 KPa
3. Haemodynamic instability
4. Mechanism

Question 4

When do we extubate?

Answer 4

1. When we have sorted out the original problem that needed intubation
2. Water free lung
3. The patient is haemodynamically is stable
4. No new infections above and below the diaphragm
5. No new bronchospasm

Question 5

What is the normal inspiration:expiration ratio in a normal patient?

Answer 5

• 1:3

- We usually have longer expiration but this swapped in a ventilated patient

Question 6

Why is the inspiration longer in a ventilated patient?

Answer 6

-to recruit more alveoli and lungs and help with better oxygen transmission

Question 7

In which patients should we cautious about auto PEEP or giving too much during inspiration?

Answer 7

-in asthmatic and COPD patients

Question 8

What is flow acceleration?

Answer 8

-How quickly a breath is delivered

Question 9

How many breaths can we deliver with a ET tube or tracheostomy?

Answer 9

90-150

Question 10

How many breaths can we deliver with a mask?

Answer 10

30-40

Question 11

What is flow trigger?

Answer 11

-it is the sensitivity of the ventilator that will be trigged according to gas flow to provide inspiration

Question 12

What is the flow trigger in normal patients and asthma/COPD patients?

Answer 12

1. Normal patients- 1L

2. Asthma and COPD patients-1.5-3L