Upper airway obstruction happens when there is an anatomic narrowing or occlusion that results in a reduced ability to exchange gas in and out of the lungs. The obstruction can lead to respiratory failure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest or death within minutes. Therefore, healthcare professionals must be aware of signs and symptoms, possible causes and management in order to intervene promptly and minimise morbidity and mortality.
Bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure that allows the direct examination of the larynx, trachea and bronchi using either a flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope or a rigid metal bronchoscope.1,2 Nurses perform an important role supporting patients undergoing bronchoscopy. In this article, we review the role of the bronchoscopy nurse in 3 surgical stages.
In this article we review the tool LEMON which has been used in different clinical settings.
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5. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2016) Pocket Guide to COPD diagnosis, management and prevention. Available at: https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/wms-GOLD-2017-Pocket-Guide.pdf
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12. Puneet Katyal. Pathophysiology of Respiratory Failure and Use of Mechanical Ventilation. American Thoracic Society Available at https://www.thoracic.org/professionals/clinical-resources/critical-care/clinical-education/mechanical-ventilation/respiratory-failure-mechanical-ventilation.pdf
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