PCP Airway Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which airway adjunct is most appropriate for an unconscious adult patient with no gag reflex?
- Nasopharyngeal airway
- Oropharyngeal airway (Correct answer)
- Bag-valve-mask only
- Nasal cannula
Correct answer: Oropharyngeal airway
An oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is indicated for unconscious patients without a gag reflex to maintain airway patency.
Question 2: What is the correct size selection method for a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)?
- Width of the patient's thumb
- Distance from the earlobe to the corner of the mouth
- Distance from the tip of the nose to the earlobe (Correct answer)
- Length of the patient's index finger
Correct answer: Distance from the tip of the nose to the earlobe
Measure the NPA from the tip of the nose to the earlobe to select the correct size.
Question 3: A patient with a suspected cervical spine injury needs airway management. Which technique is preferred?
- Head-tilt chin-lift
- Jaw thrust maneuver (Correct answer)
- Hyperextension of the neck
- Flexion of the neck
Correct answer: Jaw thrust maneuver
The jaw thrust maneuver opens the airway while maintaining spinal alignment in suspected cervical spine injuries.
Question 4: What is the appropriate oxygen flow rate when using a non-rebreather mask?
- 2–4 L/min
- 5–6 L/min
- 10–15 L/min (Correct answer)
- 20–25 L/min
Correct answer: 10–15 L/min
A non-rebreather mask requires 10–15 L/min to keep the reservoir bag inflated and deliver ~90% oxygen.
Question 5: Which sign most reliably indicates successful bag-valve-mask ventilation?
- Rise and fall of the chest (Correct answer)
- Gurgling sounds
- Cyanosis resolution
- Skin color improvement
Correct answer: Rise and fall of the chest
Visible chest rise and fall with each ventilation is the most direct confirmation of effective BVM ventilation.
Question 6: When suctioning a patient's airway, the maximum recommended suction time per attempt is:
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds (Correct answer)
- 20 seconds
- 30 seconds
Correct answer: 10 seconds
Limit suction to no more than 10 seconds per attempt to prevent hypoxia and vagal stimulation.
PCP Airway Management 1
Which airway adjunct is most appropriate for an unconscious adult patient with no gag reflex?