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Airway Management and Techniques Flashcards

7 cards from real FANZCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which laryngoscope blade design provides the best view when the epiglottis is long and floppy and cannot be lifted indirectly?

    Answer: Miller blade

    The Miller (straight) blade directly lifts the epiglottis, making it superior when the epiglottis is long, floppy, or omega-shaped and cannot be lifted indirectly via the vallecula as with a Macintosh blade.

  2. According to the Difficult Airway Society (DAS) guidelines adopted in Australian and New Zealand anaesthetic practice, what is the maximum number of intubation attempts recommended before declaring a failed intubation?

    Answer: 3 attempts

    DAS guidelines recommend no more than 3 laryngoscopy attempts (including one by a senior anaesthetist) before declaring failed intubation and moving to the next step in the algorithm.

  3. When performing a rapid sequence induction (RSI), cricoid pressure (Sellick's maneuver) is applied. What is the recommended force to apply once the patient loses consciousness?

    Answer: 30 Newtons

    The recommended force for cricoid pressure once the patient loses consciousness is 30 Newtons (approximately 3 kg), which provides adequate compression of the oesophagus without distorting the airway.

  4. A patient with a Cormack-Lehane Grade III laryngoscopic view is best described as having which of the following?

    Answer: Only the epiglottis visible

    A Cormack-Lehane Grade III view shows only the epiglottis with no part of the glottis visible, making intubation significantly more difficult and often requiring adjuncts such as a bougie.

  5. Which of the following is the MOST reliable method for confirming correct endotracheal tube placement in the FANZCA and ANZCA framework?

    Answer: Continuous waveform capnography

    Continuous waveform capnography with sustained end-tidal CO2 over multiple breaths is the gold standard and most reliable method for confirming endotracheal tube placement, as recommended by ANZCA guidelines.

  6. In the 'can't intubate, can't oxygenate' (CICO) scenario, what is the preferred surgical airway technique in current ANZCA-endorsed guidelines?

    Answer: Scalpel-finger-bougie cricothyroidotomy

    The scalpel-finger-bougie (or scalpel-bougie) technique for front-of-neck access is currently the recommended approach in CICO emergencies as it is faster, more reliable, and less prone to failure than needle techniques in adults.

  7. What is the primary advantage of a video laryngoscope compared to a direct laryngoscope in the management of an anticipated difficult airway?

    Answer: Provides an improved glottic view without requiring direct line of sight

    Video laryngoscopes use an angled camera blade to visualise the glottis indirectly, significantly improving the view in patients where mouth opening, neck mobility, or anatomy prevents a direct line of sight.

Airway Management and Techniques Flashcards — FANZCA Study Cards with Answers