Airway Management Flashcards

The Mallampati classification assesses which anatomical structures to predict difficult intubation?

Answer: Visibility of oropharyngeal structures including soft palate, uvula, and tonsillar pillars

The Mallampati score classifies the visibility of oropharyngeal structures (soft palate, uvula, fauces, and tonsillar pillars) when the patient opens their mouth maximally with the tongue protruded.

A Cormack-Lehane Grade 3 view during direct laryngoscopy indicates:

Answer: Only the epiglottis is visible, no part of the glottis

Cormack-Lehane Grade 3 indicates only the epiglottis is visible with no part of the glottis seen, making intubation very difficult.

The recommended force for cricoid pressure (Sellick's maneuver) during rapid sequence induction is:

Answer: 30 N applied to the cricoid cartilage

Sellick's maneuver recommends approximately 30 Newtons of force applied to the cricoid cartilage to occlude the esophagus and reduce aspiration risk during RSI.

Which element is deliberately OMITTED from a classic rapid sequence induction (RSI)?

Answer: Bag-mask ventilation after loss of consciousness

Classic RSI deliberately avoids bag-mask ventilation after induction to minimize gastric insufflation and aspiration risk, proceeding directly from induction to intubation.

The 'sniffing position' optimizes laryngoscopy by aligning which three axes?

Answer: Oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes

The sniffing position (neck flexed, head extended) aligns the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes to create the optimal line of sight for direct laryngoscopy.

Emergency cricothyrotomy is performed through which anatomical structure?

Answer: The cricothyroid membrane between thyroid and cricoid cartilages

Cricothyrotomy accesses the airway through the cricothyroid membrane, situated between the thyroid cartilage superiorly and the cricoid cartilage inferiorly — the most accessible anterior airway landmark.

Which of the following is the strongest independent predictor of difficult bag-mask ventilation?

Answer: Presence of a beard obscuring mask seal

A beard is one of the most significant predictors of difficult bag-mask ventilation because it prevents an adequate seal between the mask and the patient's face, regardless of other airway anatomy.