Which is a goal of the respiratory system management in post-cardiac arrest care?

• A. Optimize airway, oxygenation, and ventilation
• B. Increase oxygen requirements
• C. Limit oxygen therapy
• D. Minimize monitoring

Answer: (A)

The main goal of respiratory management after resuscitation is to secure the airway and optimize oxygenation and ventilation. After a cardiac arrest, the brain and other organs are highly sensitive to oxygen levels and CO2. Ensuring the airway is clear and stable allows reliable breathing support and prevents hypoxemia, hypercapnia, or ventilator-related injury. Providing adequate oxygen while avoiding unnecessary excess is key, and ventilator settings should aim for normal or near-normal CO2 and appropriate lung pressures to prevent atelectasis and further injury. This approach supports cerebral perfusion and overall recovery.

Increasing oxygen requirements isn’t the aim, since the focus is on meeting metabolic needs safely without overdoing oxygen. Limiting oxygen therapy or minimizing monitoring would risk insufficient oxygen delivery or missing deterioration, which is not appropriate in post-arrest care.