ACLS ACLS Airway Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the preferred initial airway management technique during cardiac arrest before an advanced airway is placed?
- Bag-mask ventilation (Correct answer)
- Endotracheal intubation
- Nasopharyngeal airway only
- Surgical cricothyrotomy
Correct answer: Bag-mask ventilation
Bag-mask ventilation is the preferred initial method for providing ventilations during cardiac arrest until an advanced airway can be established.
Question 2: When performing bag-mask ventilation during CPR, what is the recommended tidal volume?
- 500–600 mL (enough to produce visible chest rise) (Correct answer)
- 800–1000 mL for maximum oxygenation
- 1200 mL to ensure deep lung inflation
- 200–300 mL to avoid hyperventilation
Correct answer: 500–600 mL (enough to produce visible chest rise)
Tidal volumes of 500–600 mL, sufficient to produce visible chest rise, are recommended to avoid gastric inflation and barotrauma.
Question 3: After placement of an advanced airway during CPR, what is the recommended ventilation rate?
- 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min) (Correct answer)
- 1 breath every 3 seconds (20 breaths/min)
- 1 breath every 2 seconds (30 breaths/min)
- 2 breaths every 30 compressions
Correct answer: 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min)
Once an advanced airway is in place, deliver asynchronous ventilations at a rate of 10 breaths per minute (one breath every 6 seconds).
Question 4: Which waveform capnography value indicates adequate CPR quality and likely myocardial perfusion during resuscitation?
- PETCO2 ≥ 10 mmHg
- PETCO2 ≥ 20 mmHg (Correct answer)
- PETCO2 < 5 mmHg
- PETCO2 ≥ 40 mmHg
Correct answer: PETCO2 ≥ 20 mmHg
A PETCO2 of 20 mmHg or greater during CPR suggests adequate cardiac output and is associated with improved survival.
Question 5: What is the most reliable confirmation method to verify correct endotracheal tube placement?
- Waveform capnography (Correct answer)
- Auscultation of breath sounds
- Chest rise observation
- Pulse oximetry reading
Correct answer: Waveform capnography
Waveform capnography is the most reliable continuous method for confirming and monitoring correct ETT placement throughout resuscitation.
Question 6: A supraglottic airway device (SGA) is considered an acceptable alternative to endotracheal intubation in ACLS because it:
- Can be inserted without interrupting chest compressions and provides effective ventilation (Correct answer)
- Is more secure than an ETT and has a lower misplacement risk
- Eliminates the need for PETCO2 monitoring
- Is the preferred airway for all cardiac arrests per 2020 guidelines
Correct answer: Can be inserted without interrupting chest compressions and provides effective ventilation
SGAs such as the LMA or King LT can be inserted with minimal interruption to CPR and provide acceptable ventilation during cardiac arrest.
ACLS ACLS Airway Management 1
What is the preferred initial airway management technique during cardiac arrest before an advanced airway is placed?