Advanced Airway Management Flashcards

When performing a rapid sequence intubation (RSI), which medication is classified as a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent?

Answer: Succinylcholine

Succinylcholine is the only depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent commonly used in RSI, causing brief fasciculations before paralysis.

A patient with a suspected C-spine injury requires intubation. Which technique is most appropriate?

Answer: Manual inline stabilization with orotracheal intubation

Manual inline stabilization (MILS) during orotracheal intubation is the preferred technique to maintain cervical spine alignment while securing the airway.

Which waveform capnography reading indicates esophageal intubation?

Answer: Flat line with no CO2 detected

Esophageal intubation produces a flat-line capnography reading with no CO2 detected after the first breath or two.

The Sellick maneuver (cricoid pressure) is applied during RSI primarily to:

Answer: Prevent passive regurgitation of gastric contents

Cricoid pressure compresses the esophagus against the vertebral body to reduce passive regurgitation and aspiration risk during intubation.

A paramedic is ventilating a 70 kg adult with a BVM. What is the appropriate tidal volume per breath?

Answer: 400-600 mL

For an adult, BVM ventilation should deliver approximately 400–600 mL tidal volume (6–8 mL/kg) to avoid gastric inflation and barotrauma.

Which laryngoscope blade type is designed to be placed in the vallecula to indirectly lift the epiglottis?

Answer: Macintosh blade

The Macintosh (curved) blade is placed in the vallecula, using traction on the hyoepiglottic ligament to indirectly elevate the epiglottis.

After successful intubation, the tube is taped at the 23 cm mark at the lips in an average adult male. This placement suggests the tube tip is:

Answer: Correctly positioned in the mid-trachea

For adult males, securing the ETT at 21–23 cm at the lips generally places the tip in the mid-trachea, approximately 3–4 cm above the carina.