Credits Hours: 1.00

Course Description:
There are specific disease processes presenting airway management challenges in the emergent setting not normally associated with airway compromise. This course addresses some of these disease processes and ways the EMS professional can successfully mitigate airway compromise in patients presenting with unexpected challenges to airway patency, breathing, and ventilation. Disease processes and special health care needs addressed in this course include:

• Oxygen and suctioning.
• Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS).
• Limited mobility.
• Obesity.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.
• Tardive dyskinesia.
• Tracheostomy.
• Halo devices.
• Palliative care issues.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this online activity, the participant will be able to:

• Identify disease processes associated with airway compromise in the adult patient with special health care needs.
• Distinguish between diseases associated with airway compromise in the adult patient with special health care needs.
• Select airway management techniques based on presenting disease processes.
• Identify the importance of suctioning and oxygenation in the adult patient with special health care needs.