FISDAP Airway Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient in respiratory failure has a SpO2 of 78% despite BVM ventilation. After intubation, you confirm tube placement with capnography showing a flat waveform. What is the most likely cause?
- Esophageal intubation (Correct answer)
- Right mainstem intubation
- Laryngospasm
- Bronchospasm
Correct answer: Esophageal intubation
A flat or absent capnography waveform after intubation is the most reliable indicator of esophageal intubation.
Question 2: Which of the following is the preferred initial airway maneuver in an unresponsive trauma patient with a suspected cervical spine injury?
- Head-tilt chin-lift
- Jaw-thrust maneuver (Correct answer)
- Nasopharyngeal airway insertion
- Orotracheal intubation
Correct answer: Jaw-thrust maneuver
The jaw-thrust maneuver opens the airway without extending the neck, making it the preferred technique in suspected C-spine injury.
Question 3: A 4-year-old patient requires bag-valve-mask ventilation. Which BVM size is most appropriate?
- Adult 1600 mL
- Child 500 mL (Correct answer)
- Infant 250 mL
- Neonatal 150 mL
Correct answer: Child 500 mL
A pediatric (child) BVM of approximately 500 mL is appropriate for children to avoid over-ventilation.
Question 4: When performing needle decompression for a tension pneumothorax, where should the needle be inserted?
- 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line (Correct answer)
- 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line
- 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
- 3rd intercostal space, posterior axillary line
Correct answer: 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
The 2nd intercostal space at the midclavicular line is the standard site for needle thoracostomy in tension pneumothorax.
Question 5: A patient is found apneic with dentures present. What is the best action regarding the dentures during BVM ventilation?
- Always remove them immediately
- Leave well-fitting dentures in place to maintain mask seal (Correct answer)
- Remove only the upper denture
- Remove only the lower denture
Correct answer: Leave well-fitting dentures in place to maintain mask seal
Well-fitting dentures help maintain facial contour and improve mask seal during BVM ventilation; remove them only if they become dislodged.
Question 6: Which finding on post-intubation assessment indicates right mainstem bronchus intubation?
- Breath sounds absent bilaterally
- Breath sounds present only on the right (Correct answer)
- Capnography waveform absent
- SpO2 drops to 60%
Correct answer: Breath sounds present only on the right
Unilateral (right-sided only) breath sounds after intubation indicate the tube has advanced into the right mainstem bronchus.
Question 7: What is the maximum number of seconds an intubation attempt should last before pausing to re-oxygenate the patient?
- 10 seconds
- 20 seconds
- 30 seconds (Correct answer)
- 45 seconds
Correct answer: 30 seconds
Intubation attempts should be limited to 30 seconds, after which the patient must be re-oxygenated with BVM ventilation.
FISDAP Airway Management 2
A patient in respiratory failure has a SpO2 of 78% despite BVM ventilation.
After intubation, you confirm tube placement with capnography showing a flat waveform.
What is the most likely cause?