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Airway Management & Emergency Preparedness Flashcards

7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient receiving moderate sedation develops stridor and paradoxical chest movement. The FIRST intervention should be:

    Answer: Perform a jaw thrust maneuver

    Jaw thrust opens the airway by displacing the tongue anteriorly and is the first-line maneuver for airway obstruction in a sedated patient.

  2. Which capnography waveform pattern indicates a completely obstructed airway during conscious sedation?

    Answer: Flat (absent) ETCO2 waveform

    A flat, absent ETCO2 waveform indicates no CO2 is being exhaled, consistent with complete airway obstruction or apnea.

  3. During conscious sedation, a patient's SpO2 drops from 99% to 88% over 2 minutes. After repositioning the airway, what is the next priority action?

    Answer: Apply supplemental oxygen via face mask

    Supplemental oxygen corrects hypoxemia rapidly while the cause is assessed; reversal agents are reserved for opioid/benzodiazepine-induced respiratory depression.

  4. The maximum recommended time a sedation team should attempt bag-valve-mask ventilation before escalating to advanced airway management is:

    Answer: 2–3 minutes

    If BVM ventilation fails to maintain adequate oxygenation after 2–3 minutes, advanced airway intervention (LMA or intubation) is indicated.

  5. A patient with a Mallampati Class IV airway is scheduled for a procedure requiring moderate sedation. The most important pre-procedure action is:

    Answer: Ensure an anesthesiologist or provider skilled in advanced airway management is immediately available

    Mallampati Class IV indicates a difficult airway; having advanced airway-skilled personnel present is the critical safety measure.

  6. Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepine-induced respiratory depression but carries the risk of:

    Answer: Re-sedation after its short duration wears off

    Flumazenil has a shorter half-life than most benzodiazepines, so re-sedation can occur after 45–90 minutes, requiring continued monitoring.

  7. Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator that bag-valve-mask ventilation is effective during an emergency?

    Answer: Visible bilateral chest rise and rising SpO2

    Bilateral chest rise combined with improving pulse oximetry confirms adequate lung ventilation rather than gastric insufflation.