USAF EMS Protocol Practical Exam

The recommended action when a patient exhibits signs of barotrauma during ventilation is to reduce the ventilation rate. Barotrauma refers to injury caused to the body tissues due to pressure changes, which can occur during mechanical ventilation if the pressure delivered to the lungs is too high or if there is overinflation of the lungs.

By reducing the ventilation rate, you are allowing more time for the lungs to exhale between breaths, which can help decrease the pressure in the lungs, thus minimizing the risk of further injury. This action can also prevent excessive volumes of air from being pushed into the lung tissue, which could exacerbate the condition.

The other options are not appropriate responses in this scenario. For instance, increasing the oxygen flow rate does not address the mechanical aspect causing the barotrauma and may actually worsen the situation. Administering fluid resuscitation does not have a direct impact on addressing the lung injury that may have occurred from barotrauma. Stopping ventilations immediately might lead to inadequate oxygenation and ventilation, potentially resulting in severe respiratory compromise for the patient. Therefore, reducing the ventilation rate is the best choice to alleviate the immediate risks associated with barotrauma.