You are assessing a 37-year-old woman who was rescued from an apartment fire. She has a harsh, stridorous, "brassy"-sounding cough productive of sooty sputum. Her eyebrows and the hair around her face are singed. Respirations = 28, heart rate = 108, and blood pressure = 124/84. You have a 30-minute transport time. Which of the following is the best intervention for this patient?
A) One hundred percent oxygen by nonrebreather mask
B) Sedation and cricothyrotomy
C) A nebulized albuterol treatment
D) Rapid sequence intubation and endotracheal intubation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the patient's symptoms of a harsh, stridorous cough, sooty sputum, and singed facial hair, she likely has significant airway injury from smoke inhalation. Rapid sequence intubation and endotracheal intubation are the best interventions to secure her airway and prevent further damage or airway compromise.

You Are Assessing a 37-Year-Old Woman Who Was Rescued from an Apartment