A patient presents with stridor. What is the recommended initial management?

A patient presents with stridor. What is the recommended initial management?

• A. Nebulized Epi
• B. Oxygen mask
• C. Nebulized Albuterol
• D. Nebulized NS SVN

Answer: (D)

Stridor signals partial upper airway obstruction, so the first goal is to support the airway and keep the airway environment as comfortable and humid as possible. Nebulized normal saline delivered through a small-volume nebulizer provides humidified gas to the airway, helping moisturize the mucosa, potentially reducing edema and improving secretions without introducing systemic effects or bronchodilation. It’s a safe, quick, noninvasive step to stabilize the airway before considering other therapies. The other options involve medications that are more appropriate for bronchospasm or lower airway disease, or they don’t directly address airway humidification, making neb­ulized saline the preferred initial measure.

Stridor signals partial upper airway obstruction, so the first goal is to support the airway and keep the airway environment as comfortable and humid as possible. Nebulized normal saline delivered through a small-volume nebulizer provides humidified gas to the airway, helping moisturize the mucosa, potentially reducing edema and improving secretions without introducing systemic effects or bronchodilation. It’s a safe, quick, noninvasive step to stabilize the airway before considering other therapies. The other options involve medications that are more appropriate for bronchospasm or lower airway disease, or they don’t directly address airway humidification, making neb­ulized saline the preferred initial measure.