EMS 20/20 Special Edition: Respiratory Kombat
Mar 19, 2025
A tense respiratory rescue unfolds with audible wheeze, crackles, and dropping oxygen levels. They triage airway, deploy high-flow oxygen and CPAP, and juggle nitroglycerin and diuretics while coordinating oxygen logistics. Team roles, IV challenges, transport planning, and how pulmonary edema can mimic obstructive disease are explored in rapid, practical scenes.
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Pregame Shortness Of Breath Calls
- Do pregame shortness-of-breath calls by prepping monitor, oxygen, CPAP, suction, and nebulizer before entry.
- Chris instructs placing all kits on the gurney and bringing CPAP/suction separately to avoid delays in a skilled nursing facility.
Give Oxygen Before Waiting For SATs
- Do start high-flow oxygen immediately for audible wheeze and high work of breathing, even before sats reported.
- Chris had partner place a non-rebreather at 15 LPM first, then add neb and monitoring to rapidly reverse hypoxia.
Wheezing Can Signal Pulmonary Edema
- Wheeze plus diminished lower lung sounds with new bibasilar rales suggests pulmonary edema with bronchospasm overlay.
- Chris links diminished lower fields and rails to flash pulmonary edema irritating the lungs and causing constriction.