1. What isthe most common cause of upper airway problems: Answer - patency issues: so in pt's who are in critical/emergentsituations, the first thing we assessforis airway obstruction (the tongue is common, esp in pts with altered LOC) 2. What is the definitive treatment to protect the airway?: Answer - intubation 3. Endotracheal intubation: Answer - the definitive tx to protect the airway. by bypassing all the areas that can cause swelling or the tongue that can cause obstruction, it is the definitive way that we know the patient can deliver oxygen to the lungs - tube passesthrough the airway (anteriorside), about a foot to a foot and a half long, it passes through the vocal cords, and there is a balloon that separates the upper and lower airways - make sure tube passes through trachea not the esophagus - keep pt HOB elevated as balloon is not totally impervious to secretions (aspiration risk) 4. Carina: Answer - tracheal bifurcation - trachea splits into R and L lung bronchus 5. What is the difference between the R and L bronchus?: Answer - the R mainstem is a little straighter than the L one,so if the ET tube goestoo far then it will go exclusively only to the R lung and not the L 6. How to assess if the ET tube is in the trachea and not the R bronchus?