Anesthetic Equipment and Safety Flashcards

Which laryngoscope blade design provides a straight path to lift the epiglottis directly?

Answer: Miller blade

The Miller blade is a straight blade designed to directly lift the epiglottis to expose the glottis.

What is the primary function of the adjustable pressure-limiting (APL) valve in an anesthesia breathing circuit?

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.

A cuffed endotracheal tube cuff pressure should be maintained below which value to prevent tracheal mucosal ischemia?

Answer: 30 cmH2O

Cuff pressures above 30 cmH2O exceed tracheal mucosal capillary perfusion pressure and risk ischemic injury.

Which size supraglottic airway device (LMA Classic) is recommended for an adult patient weighing 70 kg?

Answer: Size 4

LMA Classic size 4 is recommended for adults weighing 50–70 kg, making it appropriate for a 70 kg patient.

The Mallampati classification is used to predict difficulty with which aspect of airway management?

Answer: Laryngoscopy and intubation

Mallampati scoring assesses oropharyngeal visibility to predict the likelihood of difficult direct laryngoscopy and intubation.

During a video laryngoscopy with a hyperangulated blade, the most common reason for inability to pass the tube despite a good view is:

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.