NPA Usage.

[TransportJockey]

I said small pet peeve. But it depends on whether or not I've had my coffee

Sounds about right Coffee fixes many many things!

 

[Bullets]

I'm assuming you're meaning "bag". A small pet peeve of mine. Grocers "bag"...

what do you call it? you guys dont use Ambubags?

 

[Jay]

My $0.02... If it's a trauma Pt and you suspect possible facial injuries than absolutely do not use a NPA but an OPA is fine in this case. For a seizure, if your company wants you to use a NPA and given the circumstances, it wouldn't hurt the Pt any. In general, if the Pt is presenting well even with a low GCS but otherwise breathing normally than use common sense, why do an intervention where it is not medically necessary, which brings us to our golden rule:

Treat your patient, not your patients numbers

Cheers!

 

[Fox800]

Last time I went through AMLS I noticed they were really advocating NPA's for active seizures.

I love me some NPAs. Good stuff, especially with all of the ETOH/OD stuff I deal with.

 

[DFW333]

Ok forgive me for asking probably the dumbest question ever...but why use NPA's at all? I mean, who really needs help holding their nostrils open? That's all it does. And people who do need such help usually need it due to trauma that contraindicates the NPA. Maybe Im just over thinking it here?

 

[abckidsmom]

Ok forgive me for asking probably the dumbest question ever...but why use NPA's at all? I mean, who really needs help holding their nostrils open? That's all it does. And people who do need such help usually need it due to trauma that contraindicates the NPA. Maybe Im just over thinking it here?

Not the top, but the bottom end. NPAs keep the soft palate off the retropharynx. And I put it in anyone with a gag reflex who needs a little assistance with their airway...most commonly unconscious diabetics, while I wait for them to wake up. I know they're approaching the land of the living when they remove the NPA.

 

[mc400]

used one on a code post succesful defib the other day. PT would not take an OPA and was breathing on his own so we supported his respirations and had an OPA placed.