FISDAP Airway Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with anaphylaxis is rapidly developing stridor and hoarseness. Which airway intervention is most immediately indicated?
- Nasopharyngeal airway
- Orotracheal intubation (Correct answer)
- Supplemental oxygen by non-rebreather mask
- Surgical cricothyrotomy
Correct answer: Orotracheal intubation
Rapidly progressing angioedema from anaphylaxis may cause complete obstruction, so early orotracheal intubation is preferred before the airway closes.
Question 2: Which medication used in rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent?
- Rocuronium
- Vecuronium
- Succinylcholine (Correct answer)
- Etomidate
Correct answer: Succinylcholine
Succinylcholine is the only depolarizing NMBA used clinically, providing rapid onset and short duration ideal for RSI.
Question 3: During orotracheal intubation, the Sellick maneuver (cricoid pressure) is applied primarily to:
- Improve laryngoscopic view by elevating the glottis
- Reduce passive regurgitation of gastric contents (Correct answer)
- Prevent laryngospasm
- Stabilize the trachea during tube passage
Correct answer: Reduce passive regurgitation of gastric contents
Cricoid pressure occludes the esophagus to reduce the risk of passive regurgitation and aspiration during intubation.
Question 4: A patient has a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in place. Which of the following is a known limitation of the LMA?
- It cannot be used in cardiac arrest
- It does not protect against aspiration (Correct answer)
- It requires visualization of the vocal cords
- It cannot deliver positive pressure ventilation
Correct answer: It does not protect against aspiration
The LMA sits above the glottis and does not create a tracheal seal, so it does not reliably prevent aspiration.
Question 5: What is the correct ETT size for an average adult female patient?
- 6.0–6.5 mm ID
- 7.0–7.5 mm ID (Correct answer)
- 8.0–8.5 mm ID
- 5.0–5.5 mm ID
Correct answer: 7.0–7.5 mm ID
For adult females, an ETT with an internal diameter of 7.0–7.5 mm is typically appropriate.
Question 6: A patient is intubated and being transported. ETCO2 suddenly drops from 38 mmHg to near zero. What should you assess first?
- Recheck IV access
- Assess for tube dislodgement or obstruction (Correct answer)
- Increase ventilation rate
- Check for pneumothorax
Correct answer: Assess for tube dislodgement or obstruction
A sudden drop in ETCO2 to near zero during transport most likely indicates tube dislodgement or complete obstruction.
Question 7: Which of the following correctly describes the Mallampati classification?
- A radiographic scoring system for cervical spine injury
- A visual assessment predicting difficult intubation based on oral anatomy (Correct answer)
- A scoring system for pediatric airway obstruction
- A post-intubation tube depth reference guide
Correct answer: A visual assessment predicting difficult intubation based on oral anatomy
The Mallampati classification scores visibility of the soft palate, fauces, uvula, and pillars to predict difficult intubation.
FISDAP Airway Management 3
A patient with anaphylaxis is rapidly developing stridor and hoarseness.
Which airway intervention is most immediately indicated?