DAANCE Airway Management and Oxygen Therapy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The jaw thrust maneuver is the preferred technique for opening the airway in a patient with a suspected:
- Asthma attack
- Cervical spine injury (Correct answer)
- Diabetic emergency
- Anaphylactic reaction
Correct answer: Cervical spine injury
The jaw thrust opens the airway by displacing the mandible anteriorly without extending or rotating the neck, making it safe when cervical spine injury is a concern.
Question 2: Partial laryngospasm is most commonly identified by:
- Complete silence during attempted ventilation
- A high-pitched crowing or stridor sound (Correct answer)
- A decrease in end-tidal CO2 to zero
- A sudden rise in blood pressure only
Correct answer: A high-pitched crowing or stridor sound
Partial laryngospasm produces stridor or high-pitched crowing because air moves through a narrowed but not fully closed glottis.
Question 3: What is the first-line intervention for mild laryngospasm during office-based sedation?
- Administer succinylcholine intramuscularly
- Apply positive-pressure ventilation with 100% oxygen and jaw thrust (Correct answer)
- Perform emergency cricothyrotomy
- Administer IV epinephrine immediately
Correct answer: Apply positive-pressure ventilation with 100% oxygen and jaw thrust
Positive-pressure ventilation with 100% O2 combined with jaw thrust is the least invasive initial step and often successfully breaks mild laryngospasm.
Question 4: How is the correct size for an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) determined in an adult?
- From the tip of the nose to the earlobe
- From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible (Correct answer)
- From the center of the lips to the mastoid process
- From the chin to the sternal notch
Correct answer: From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible
An OPA is correctly sized by measuring from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible, ensuring it reaches from the lips to the base of the tongue.
Question 5: How is the correct size for a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) determined?
- From the tip of the nose to the earlobe (Correct answer)
- From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible
- From the nare to the sternal notch
- From the chin to the earlobe
Correct answer: From the tip of the nose to the earlobe
Measuring from the tip of the nose to the earlobe provides the appropriate NPA length to position the tip at the nasopharynx without entering the larynx.
Question 6: A simple face mask at 6–10 L/min delivers an approximate FiO2 of:
- 21–28%
- 28–36%
- 40–60% (Correct answer)
- 80–100%
Correct answer: 40–60%
A simple face mask without a reservoir bag delivers approximately 40–60% FiO2 at 6–10 L/min, which is between a nasal cannula and a non-rebreather mask.
Question 7: If a sedation patient becomes unresponsive and cannot be easily repositioned supine, which position helps maintain airway patency and reduces aspiration risk?
- Prone position
- Trendelenburg position
- Recovery (lateral decubitus) position (Correct answer)
- Upright (90-degree) position
Correct answer: Recovery (lateral decubitus) position
The lateral recovery position allows the tongue to fall away from the posterior pharynx and lets secretions drain from the mouth, reducing aspiration risk.
DAANCE Airway Management and Oxygen Therapy 2
The jaw thrust maneuver is the preferred technique for opening the airway in a patient with a suspected: