The following vital capacity measurements were obtained every 4 hours from a patient with suspected Myesthenia-Gravis. Based on this data, what should the respiratory therapist recommend?
| 0800 | Vital Capacity = 2.0 Liters |
| 1200 | Vital Capacity = 1.4 Liters |
| 1600 | Vital Capacity = 0.8 Liters |
- Retest the vital capacity in 2 hours
- 2 LPM nasal cannula
- Non-invasive mask ventilation
- Nasotracheal suctioning
Explanations
- Incorrect. Waiting to retest the patient in two hours will delay care for a patient who is in impending respiratory failure.
- Incorrect. There is no indication the patient is hypoxemic, therefore, a 2 LPM nasal cannula is not indicated.
- Correct. The vital capacity measurements show a downward trend indicating the patient’s ventilatory muscle strength is weakening. A vital capacity less than 1 Liter is generally considered unacceptable as a rule of thumb. As a result, this patient requires ventilatory assistance, which can be provided non-invasively.
- Incorrect. Nasotracheal suctioning is not indicated, as there is no indication the patient has secretions.