Answer :
Final answer:
To minimize atelectasis during endotracheal suctioning, it is crucial to perform suctioning only when necessary, limit the suction time, use a smaller catheter, and avoid increased suction pressure and duration. These practices help maintain lung volumes and decrease the work of breathing post-surgery.
The correct answer is option A.
Explanation:
Minimizing Atelectasis During Endotracheal Suctioning: To minimize atelectasis during endotracheal suctioning, certain steps should be followed to maintain lung volumes and avoid lung collapse. Atelectasis is the collapse of part or all of a lung, which can occur when air is removed from the airways or alveoli during suction and not adequately replaced. A key approach to prevention includes:
Performing suctioning only when strictly necessary.
Limiting suction time to minimize the removal of air from the lungs.
Using a smaller catheter to reduce the potential for removing excessive amounts of air.
Avoiding increased suction pressure and duration because this can exacerbate atelectasis.
Not using a larger catheter unless necessary, as it could lead to more extensive airway trauma and lung volume depletion.
Following these steps can decrease the work of breathing and improve post-surgical recovery by ensuring that the lungs remain well-inflated and the negative pressure in the thoracic cavity is maintained.
