DCAS Airway Management & Intubation 4

Question 1

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) does NOT provide:

Accepted Answer

Protection against aspiration of gastric contents

Answer

The LMA sits in the hypopharynx above the larynx without cuffing the trachea, providing a patent airway and ventilation conduit but offering no protection against regurgitation and aspiration.

Question 2

Adequate pre-oxygenation before RSI aims to achieve a SpO2 of:

Accepted Answer

100% (or as close as possible) on high-flow oxygen for at least 3 minutes to maximise oxygen reserve

Answer

Pre-oxygenation denitrogenates the functional residual capacity, extending the apnoea time (safe apnoea period) before desaturation; achieving SpO2 100% maximises the oxygen reserve available during the intubation attempt.

Question 3

Which induction agent used in RSI has the property of maintaining haemodynamic stability and providing bronchodilation?

Accepted Answer

Ketamine

Answer

Ketamine's sympathomimetic properties increase heart rate and blood pressure (via catecholamine release), providing haemodynamic stability in shock states; it also causes bronchodilation making it ideal for intubation of asthmatic patients.

Question 4

The 'sniffing position' for intubation aligns:

Accepted Answer

The oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes to provide the best laryngoscopic view

Answer

The sniffing position (neck flexed, head extended) aligns the oral-pharyngeal-laryngeal axis, improving the laryngoscopic view of the glottis; a folded towel under the occiput achieves this in most adults.

Question 5

Following intubation of a trauma patient with suspected haemopneumothorax, SpO2 suddenly drops. The first action is:

Accepted Answer

Disconnect BVM and verify tube position — listen for bilateral breath sounds

Answer

Post-intubation desaturation has multiple causes (oesophageal intubation, right main bronchus, tension pneumothorax, haemothorax); systematically checking tube position first (DOPE: Displacement, Obstruction, Pneumothorax, Equipment failure) guides definitive management.

DCAS Practice Test

DCAS Practice Test

DCAS Airway Management & Intubation 4