Answer :
Final answer:
The most crucial step during tracheobronchial suctioning is to (C) pre-oxygenate the patient to avoid hypoxemia, ensuring the patient has enough oxygen in their blood during the procedure.
Explanation:
During tracheobronchial suctioning, the most crucial aspect to ensure patient safety and the effectiveness of the suctioning is to pre-oxygenate the patient before the procedure. This step involves providing additional oxygen to the patient prior to suctioning to avoid hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels), which can occur due to the temporary removal of the patient's airway during suctioning. Pre-oxygenation ensures that the patient has enough oxygen in their bloodstream to tolerate the brief period without ventilation. Although limiting suction time and hyperinflating the lungs can also be important, applying continuous suction while inserting the catheter is not recommended due to the risk of damaging the airway and lung tissues. Therefore, option c) Pre-oxygenate the patient before suctioning is correct.
