If a patient who fell shows hypoxemia and hypercarbia, what is prepared?

• A. Nebulized bronchodilator
• B. CT chest
• C. Endotracheal intubation
• D. Intubation

Answer: (D)

When a trauma patient shows hypoxemia and hypercarbia, the immediate priority is to secure the airway and provide reliable ventilation. Intubation accomplishes this by placing an endotracheal tube, which protects the airway from aspiration and allows controlled ventilation with 100% oxygen. With a definitive airway, you can fine-tune ventilation to raise oxygen levels and lower carbon dioxide, and you can monitor with capnography to confirm tube placement. Other options like a nebulized bronchodilator target bronchospasm but won’t rapidly fix inadequate ventilation due to trauma or airway compromise. CT chest is helpful for diagnosis but takes time and isn’t an immediate lifesaving step in an unstable patient. So, preparing to intubate is the best next move to stabilize both oxygenation and ventilation.