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Tube or circuit obstruction branch

Vent control

Tube or circuit obstruction branch

Look from ventilator to alveoli.

Tube/circuit hypoxia pathDepth, cuff, circuit, oxygen source.If volume dropsLow volume pathway.

Check

  • Kinked tubing, water, filter/HME, bite, small ETT, tube kink.
  • Circuit resistance, valve/filter obstruction, and patient biting.

Evidence and use limits

Last reviewed: 2026-07-17. Designed for: emergency medicine learners, clinicians, EMS, RT, and airway educators.

This is an educational clinical reference, not a bedside order set. Confirm medications, ventilator changes, pediatric dosing, procedures, and escalation decisions against the patient’s physiology, the ventilator in use, and local ED/ICU/anesthesia/pharmacy/RT/EMS/pediatric policy.

Full references · Editorial policy · AARC 2024 ventilator assessment · ATS/ESICM/SCCM lung-protective ventilation · ATS 2024 ARDS update

About this resource
Website creator: Kyle Brown, MD Airway educational contributors: Andrew Pirotte, MD; Kyle Brown, MD; Reba Hodge, MD; Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP; Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP; Joshua Mohess Clinical review: Emergency medicine faculty review completed. Medication content reviewed by Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP, and Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP. Last reviewed: 2026-07-23 Next scheduled review: 2027-01-23 Designed for: EM residents, emergency physicians, EMS clinicians, airway educators, and simulation faculty Important: Educational resource and clinical-reference guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment. Website contact: [email protected]