You are ventilating a patient with a stoma, but air is escaping from the mouth and nose. To prevent this, you should:

You are ventilating a patient with a stoma, but air is escaping from the mouth and nose. To prevent this, you should:

• A. Ventilate through the stoma and mouth/nose.
• B. Seal the mouth and nose.
• C. Cover the stoma with a mask.
• D. Occlude the nostrils with your fingers.

Answer: (B)

When a patient has a stoma, the airway is the opening in the neck, and delivering air efficiently means directing all breaths into that opening. If the mouth and nose are left open, some of the positive-pressure air escapes through the upper airway instead of going into the tracheostomy, making ventilation ineffective. Sealing the mouth and nose eliminates this leakage, forcing the ventilated air to enter through the stoma. You can still use a mask over the stoma to help achieve a good seal around the opening. Ventilating through both routes or occluding only the nostrils won’t prevent air loss and is less effective.

When a patient has a stoma, the airway is the opening in the neck, and delivering air efficiently means directing all breaths into that opening. If the mouth and nose are left open, some of the positive-pressure air escapes through the upper airway instead of going into the tracheostomy, making ventilation ineffective. Sealing the mouth and nose eliminates this leakage, forcing the ventilated air to enter through the stoma. You can still use a mask over the stoma to help achieve a good seal around the opening. Ventilating through both routes or occluding only the nostrils won’t prevent air loss and is less effective.