Paramedics Exam Airway Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 6-year-old child requires intubation. Using the formula (age/4) + 4, what is the correct uncuffed ETT size for a 4-year-old?
- 4.0 mm
- 5.0 mm (Correct answer)
- 5.5 mm
- 6.0 mm
Correct answer: 5.0 mm
Using (4/4) + 4 = 5.0 mm, which is the appropriate uncuffed tube size for a 4-year-old child.
Question 2: What is the correct depth of ETT insertion for an average adult male measured at the teeth?
- 15-17 cm
- 19-23 cm (Correct answer)
- 25-28 cm
- 30-33 cm
Correct answer: 19-23 cm
In adult males, the ETT is typically secured at 21-23 cm at the teeth to ensure proper positioning above the carina.
Question 3: Which of the following describes the BURP maneuver and its purpose during intubation?
- Backward, Upward, Rightward Pressure on the thyroid cartilage to improve glottic view (Correct answer)
- Bilateral Upward Rotation of the Palate to open the mouth
- Broad Upper Rib Pressure to reduce aspiration risk
- Backward Upward Rolling of the Patient to align the airway
Correct answer: Backward, Upward, Rightward Pressure on the thyroid cartilage to improve glottic view
BURP (Backward, Upward, Rightward Pressure on the thyroid cartilage) is an external laryngeal manipulation that improves the laryngoscopic view of the glottis.
Question 4: In a patient with severe facial trauma making oral intubation impossible and BVM ineffective, what is the definitive surgical airway procedure?
- Nasotracheal intubation
- Retrograde intubation
- Needle cricothyrotomy
- Surgical cricothyrotomy (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Surgical cricothyrotomy
Surgical cricothyrotomy provides a definitive surgical airway with adequate tidal volumes when other methods have failed.
Question 5: A patient has a history of malignant hyperthermia. Which RSI drug should be AVOIDED?
- Ketamine
- Midazolam
- Succinylcholine (Correct answer)
- Rocuronium
Correct answer: Succinylcholine
Succinylcholine is a known trigger for malignant hyperthermia and should be avoided in patients with this history or susceptibility.
Question 6: When using a bag-valve-mask, what tidal volume should be delivered to an apneic adult patient?
- 250-300 mL
- 500-600 mL (Correct answer)
- 800-1000 mL
- 1200-1500 mL
Correct answer: 500-600 mL
Current guidelines recommend 500-600 mL tidal volumes with BVM to achieve visible chest rise while minimizing gastric inflation.
Question 7: Which anatomical landmark is used to identify the cricothyroid membrane for cricothyrotomy?
- Space between the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage
- Space between the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage (Correct answer)
- Space between the cricoid cartilage and first tracheal ring
- Space between the first and second tracheal rings
Correct answer: Space between the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage
The cricothyroid membrane lies between the thyroid cartilage superiorly and the cricoid cartilage inferiorly and is palpated in the midline.
Paramedics Exam Airway Management 4
A 6-year-old child requires intubation.
Using the formula (age/4) + 4, what is the correct uncuffed ETT size for a 4-year-old?