OEC OEC Airway Management & Respiratory Emergencies 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the preferred method to open the airway in an unresponsive patient with no suspected spinal injury?
- Jaw thrust
- Head-tilt chin-lift (Correct answer)
- Triple airway maneuver
- Neck lift
Correct answer: Head-tilt chin-lift
The head-tilt chin-lift is the preferred method for opening the airway in an unresponsive patient without suspected spinal injury.
Question 2: What is the normal respiratory rate range for an adult at rest?
- 6–10 breaths/min
- 12–20 breaths/min (Correct answer)
- 22–30 breaths/min
- 30–40 breaths/min
Correct answer: 12–20 breaths/min
A normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths per minute at rest.
Question 3: Which airway adjunct is inserted through the nostril to help maintain an open airway in a semi-conscious patient?
- Oropharyngeal airway (OPA)
- Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) (Correct answer)
- Supraglottic airway
- Endotracheal tube
Correct answer: Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
A nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is inserted through the nostril to maintain airway patency and is better tolerated than an OPA in semi-conscious patients.
Question 4: When is the jaw thrust maneuver preferred over the head-tilt chin-lift?
- During cardiac arrest
- When spinal injury is suspected (Correct answer)
- For foreign body obstruction
- During pulmonary edema
Correct answer: When spinal injury is suspected
The jaw thrust opens the airway with minimal head and neck movement, making it the preferred technique when spinal injury is suspected.
Question 5: Which sign indicates complete airway obstruction in a conscious patient?
- Snoring respirations
- Gurgling sounds
- Silent cough with the universal choking sign (Correct answer)
- High-pitched stridor
Correct answer: Silent cough with the universal choking sign
A silent cough combined with the universal choking sign (hands clutching the throat) indicates complete airway obstruction requiring immediate intervention.
Question 6: What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious patient?
- Foreign body
- The tongue falling back (Correct answer)
- Mucosal swelling
- Blood or secretions
Correct answer: The tongue falling back
In unconscious patients, loss of muscle tone causes the tongue to fall back against the posterior pharynx, making it the most common cause of airway obstruction.
OEC OEC Airway Management & Respiratory Emergencies 1
What is the preferred method to open the airway in an unresponsive patient with no suspected spinal injury?