Field Internship Student Data Acquisition Project. (FISDAP) Airway Practice Exam

Which condition is an indication for using CPAP?

1. Respiratory arrest

2. Alert patient able to follow commands

3. Pneumothorax

4. Active GI bleeding

The correct answer is: Alert patient able to follow commands

The use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is indicated primarily for patients who are experiencing respiratory distress but are still able to maintain their own airway and follow simple commands. In this context, an alert patient who can follow commands suggests that they are able to cooperate with the treatment and can effectively benefit from the continuous positive pressure to help keep their airways open and improve oxygenation. CPAP can be particularly effective in conditions such as congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema, where patients exhibit signs of significant respiratory distress but still have a patent airway. The ability to follow commands indicates that the patient is stable enough to utilize this non-invasive form of respiratory support. In contrast, conditions such as respiratory arrest would typically require advanced airway management and ventilatory support, not CPAP. Pneumothorax may present with altered mechanics of breathing that are not alleviated by positive pressure; instead, it could exacerbate the condition. Active gastrointestinal bleeding doesn’t directly involve airway complications that CPAP would address, focusing instead on stabilization of the patient through other interventions. Overall, the indication for CPAP in an alert patient who can follow commands is based on the need for supportive respiratory intervention while ensuring the patient retains adequate airway control and breathing effort.