EDAIC Airway Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Mallampati classification assesses which anatomical structures to predict difficult intubation?
- Thyromental distance and mouth opening
- Visibility of oropharyngeal structures including soft palate, uvula, and tonsillar pillars (Correct answer)
- Neck mobility and degree of jaw protrusion
- Angle of the mandible and hyoid bone position
Correct 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.
Question 2: A Cormack-Lehane Grade 3 view during direct laryngoscopy indicates:
- Full glottic view with anterior and posterior cords visible
- Only the upper portion of the glottis is visible
- Only the epiglottis is visible, no part of the glottis (Correct answer)
- Neither glottis nor epiglottis can be seen
Correct 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.
Question 3: The recommended force for cricoid pressure (Sellick's maneuver) during rapid sequence induction is:
- 10 N applied to the thyroid cartilage
- 30 N applied to the cricoid cartilage (Correct answer)
- 20 N applied to the hyoid bone
- 40 N applied to the thyroid cartilage
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which element is deliberately OMITTED from a classic rapid sequence induction (RSI)?
- Pre-oxygenation with 100% oxygen for 3–5 minutes
- Administration of a sedative induction agent
- Bag-mask ventilation after loss of consciousness (Correct answer)
- Application of cricoid pressure
Correct 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.
Question 5: The 'sniffing position' optimizes laryngoscopy by aligning which three axes?
- Cervical spine, pharynx, and trachea
- Oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes (Correct answer)
- Nasal, pharyngeal, and esophageal axes
- Oral, cervical, and esophageal axes
Correct 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.
Question 6: Emergency cricothyrotomy is performed through which anatomical structure?
- The cricothyroid membrane between thyroid and cricoid cartilages (Correct answer)
- The space between the cricoid cartilage and first tracheal ring
- The thyrohyoid membrane between the hyoid and thyroid cartilages
- The space between the first and second tracheal rings
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which of the following is the strongest independent predictor of difficult bag-mask ventilation?
- High Mallampati score (Class III or IV)
- Presence of a beard obscuring mask seal (Correct answer)
- History of obstructive sleep apnea
- Limited cervical spine extension
Correct 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.
EDAIC Airway Management 1
The Mallampati classification assesses which anatomical structures to predict difficult intubation?