During fiberoptic bronchoscopy, a patient's SpO₂ drops from 91% to 87%. Which of the following actions would be appropriate?
1) Apply suction through the scope's open channel.
2) Give oxygen through the scope's open channel.
3) Increase the cannula or mask oxygen flow.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During fiberoptic bronchoscopy, a drop in SpO2 may indicate hypoxemia, which can be caused by a number of factors, such as hypoventilation, obstruction, or ventilation-perfusion mismatch. In this scenario, giving oxygen through the scope's open channel and increasing the cannula or mask oxygen flow would be appropriate interventions to improve oxygenation. Applying suction through the scope's open channel may worsen the hypoxemia by reducing the patient's oxygen reserve and should be avoided as a first-line intervention. Therefore, options 2 and 3 are the best choices in this scenario. Option 1 may be considered if the hypoxemia is due to secretions or obstruction that cannot be resolved by other means, but it should not be the initial intervention.

During Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy, a Patient's SpO2 Drops from 91% to 87

During Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy, a Patient's SpO₂ Drops from 91% to 87