You are treating a patient with paradoxical motion on the left side of the chest.He is breathing shallow at a rate of 4 breaths per minute.You should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Paradoxical motion occurs when a portion of the chest moves in the opposite direction to the rest of the chest during breathing. This can be a sign of flail chest, where multiple ribs are broken and not attached to the chest wall. Shallow breathing at a rate of 4 breaths per minute is an indication of respiratory distress. Positive pressure ventilation helps to correct respiratory distress and increase oxygenation. Therefore, the best choice would be to begin positive pressure ventilation.

You Are Treating a Patient with Paradoxical Motion on the Left