Question

1. what is the most common airway obstruction in the unconscious patient? a. food b. tonsils c. blood d. tongue 14. what are agonal gasps? a. occasional gasping breaths but adequate to maintain life b. occasional gasping breaths but unable to maintain life c. painful respirations due to broken ribs d. another name for ataxic respirations 15. which of the following could result in an inaccurate pulse oximetry reading? a. warm extremities b. carbon monoxide poisoning c. vasodilation d. hyperthermia

Explanation:

1. In an unconscious patient, the tongue often falls back and obstructs the airway, making it the most common airway - obstruction.
2. Agonal gasps are occasional gasping breaths that are unable to maintain life.
3. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin and can cause inaccurate pulse oximetry readings as pulse oximetry cannot distinguish between oxygen - bound hemoglobin and carbon - monoxide - bound hemoglobin.

Answer:

1. D. Tongue
2. B. Occasional gasping breaths but unable to maintain life
3. B. Carbon monoxide poisoning