Once the tube is in, you're managing two different problems. Keep them separate in your head.
Oxygenation is getting O₂ across the alveolar membrane and into the blood. You fix it with FiO₂, PEEP, and recruiting collapsed alveoli. You watch it with pulse oximetry.
Ventilation is moving CO₂ out of the body. You fix it with rate and tidal volume. You watch it with capnography.
A patient can fail one and look fine on the other. That's the trap. A sedated patient on high-flow oxygen can hold a saturation of 100% while hypoventilating into a dangerous hypercapnia. The oxygen reservoir masks the problem the pulse oximeter is measuring. Continuous capnography is standard on any sedated or ventilated patient, not just intubated ones.
Quick check
A sedated patient on high-flow oxygen is holding an SpO₂ of 100%. What should the paramedic conclude?
Free preview ends here
The rest of this lesson (and every other lesson, with its mastery check) is part of every paid plan, with a 7-day free trial.
Still ahead in this lesson
Save your progress
Keep your practice history, your weak topics, and every question you missed. A free account remembers all of it, so you can come back to them.
Ready for the module check?
5 questions, freshly drawn each attempt. 80%+ to pass. Retries are unlimited and immediate.