What is a key treatment step for laryngospasm?

The key treatment step for laryngospasm is mechanical airway maintenance. Laryngospasm is a condition characterized by involuntary contraction of the vocal cords, which can lead to difficulty in breathing. In such cases, ensuring that the airway remains open is critical. Mechanical airway maintenance involves techniques such as positioning the patient appropriately, providing positive pressure ventilation, or using airway adjuncts (like an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway) to secure the airway and facilitate adequate respiration.

Maintaining the airway allows for adequate oxygenation and ventilation, which is vital during an episode of laryngospasm. Prompt intervention in maintaining a clear airway can prevent hypoxia and further complications that may arise if oxygen supply is impeded.

In the context of the other options, while sedatives might seem helpful, they could potentially exacerbate airway issues by suppressing respiratory effort. Intravenous fluids are not directly related to managing laryngospasm and would not address the airway obstruction. Increased stimulation of the patient could also worsen the laryngospasm by eliciting more muscle contraction in the vocal cords. Therefore, mechanical airway maintenance is the most critical immediate action to take when faced with laryngospasm.