Airway

Distress, failure, and arrest

Examiners love contrast questions: accessory muscle use with adequate rate and tidal volume defines respiratory distress , not failure, arrest, or apnea.

Failure requires inadequate rate or volume; arrest is apnea. Treat distress with oxygen and positioning per protocol, escalate to CPAP or BVM when volume or rate fails, and never label a diaphoretic, tachypneic patient as “fine” because the rate still looks normal on a quick count.