CPAP for Dummies: So Easy a Caveman Could Do It
He’s 50 years old, and he’s wondering if he’ll ever see 51 as he struggles for air. The relief that bloomed on his face as you walked into the room has faded now, as even the non-rebreather mask you applied seems ineffective. You dread the prospect of sedating and intubating him, but it has to be done… or does it? Constant positive airway pressure is a highly effective tool for managing CHF exacerbation and acute pulmonary edema and can be safely used by all levels of EMS providers. Join Grayson and Saffer as they examine this potentially life-saving treatment in terms any EMT can understand. It’s CPAP so easy, even a caveman can do it!
Objectives:
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Review respiratory anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology of CHF and acute pulmonary edema, and the importance of adequate minute ventilation.
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Explain the role of CPAP and PEEP in alveolar recruitment and maintaining adequate minute ventilation.
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Review the operating features, pros, and cons of the various commercially available CPA devices.
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Examine funding sources, protocol development, and how to overcome obstacles in setting up a CPAP program in your own EMS system.