Airway Management Flashcards
7 cards from real PALS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Airway Management flashcards as text
After endotracheal intubation of a pediatric patient, the capnography waveform is flat. What does this most likely indicate?
Answer: Esophageal intubation with tube in the wrong position
A flat capnography trace after intubation indicates no CO2 is being detected, which is consistent with esophageal placement where no gas exchange occurs.
Using the rule of 3, what is the estimated endotracheal tube insertion depth at the lip for a child receiving a 5.0 mm (ID) tube?
Answer: 15 cm
Tube depth in centimeters is estimated as 3 times the internal diameter; for a 5.0 mm tube, the depth is 3 × 5.0 = 15 cm at the lip.
What is the recommended immediate action if the first attempt at pediatric endotracheal intubation is unsuccessful?
Answer: Resume bag-mask ventilation to oxygenate before reattempting
After a failed intubation attempt, the priority is to return to bag-mask ventilation to reoxygenate the patient before making another attempt.
What is the goal SpO2 before performing rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in a pediatric patient if clinical conditions permit?
Answer: SpO2 greater than 99%
The goal of pre-oxygenation before RSI is SpO2 greater than 99% to maximize the safe apnea time available during the intubation procedure.
A provider is unable to visualize the vocal cords during direct laryngoscopy in a 3-year-old. Which device is the best alternative to improve glottic visualization?
Answer: Video laryngoscope
Video laryngoscopy provides a significantly improved view of the glottis through a camera, making it a valuable rescue tool for difficult pediatric airways.
Where should the tip of the endotracheal tube ideally be positioned on a post-intubation chest radiograph in a pediatric patient?
Answer: In the mid-trachea, between the clavicles and the carina
The ET tube tip should sit in the mid-trachea between the clavicles and carina to allow adequate bilateral ventilation and reduce risk of displacement or right mainstem intubation.
During pediatric bag-mask ventilation, which finding most suggests the child has a gastric air leak causing ventilation difficulty?
Answer: Epigastric distension with each ventilation
Epigastric distension with each ventilation indicates air is entering the stomach rather than the lungs, which can worsen ventilation and increase aspiration risk.