EDAIC Anesthetic Equipment and Safety 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which laryngoscope blade design provides a straight path to lift the epiglottis directly?
- Miller blade (Correct answer)
- Macintosh blade
- McCoy blade
- Bullard blade
Correct answer: Miller blade
The Miller blade is a straight blade designed to directly lift the epiglottis to expose the glottis.
Question 2: What is the primary function of the adjustable pressure-limiting (APL) valve in an anesthesia breathing circuit?
- Regulate fresh gas flow rate
- Prevent rebreathing of CO2
- Vent excess gas to the scavenging system (Correct answer)
- Humidify inspired gases
Correct answer: Vent excess gas to the scavenging system
The APL valve opens to release excess gas from the circuit into the waste gas scavenging system, controlling circuit pressure.
Question 3: A cuffed endotracheal tube cuff pressure should be maintained below which value to prevent tracheal mucosal ischemia?
- 10 cmH2O
- 20 cmH2O
- 30 cmH2O (Correct answer)
- 40 cmH2O
Correct answer: 30 cmH2O
Cuff pressures above 30 cmH2O exceed tracheal mucosal capillary perfusion pressure and risk ischemic injury.
Question 4: Which size supraglottic airway device (LMA Classic) is recommended for an adult patient weighing 70 kg?
- Size 2
- Size 3
- Size 4 (Correct answer)
- Size 5
Correct answer: Size 4
LMA Classic size 4 is recommended for adults weighing 50–70 kg, making it appropriate for a 70 kg patient.
Question 5: The Mallampati classification is used to predict difficulty with which aspect of airway management?
- Mask ventilation
- Laryngoscopy and intubation (Correct answer)
- Nasotracheal intubation
- Cricothyrotomy
Correct answer: Laryngoscopy and intubation
Mallampati scoring assesses oropharyngeal visibility to predict the likelihood of difficult direct laryngoscopy and intubation.
Question 6: During a video laryngoscopy with a hyperangulated blade, the most common reason for inability to pass the tube despite a good view is:
- Excessive neck extension
- Failure to align the blade angle with the tube trajectory (Correct answer)
- Oversized endotracheal tube
- Laryngospasm
Correct answer: Failure to align the blade angle with the tube trajectory
Hyperangulated blades provide excellent views but the acute angle often requires a stylet matched to blade curvature to navigate the tube into the trachea.
EDAIC Anesthetic Equipment and Safety 1
Which laryngoscope blade design provides a straight path to lift the epiglottis directly?