AEMCA - Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant Airway Management and Ventilation Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 68-year-old male with a history of COPD is found in respiratory distress.
He is obtunded, has a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute, and his skin is cyanotic.
Waveform capnography shows a 'shark fin' appearance.
What is the most likely cause of this waveform?

Accepted Answer

Bronchospasm

Answer

Hyperventilation

Answer

Esophageal intubation

Answer

Pulmonary embolism

Question 2

When ventilating an apneic adult patient with an advanced airway in place, what is the correct ventilation rate according to current guidelines?

Accepted Answer

1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min)

Answer

1 breath every 3-5 seconds (12-20 breaths/min)

Answer

1 breath every 8-10 seconds (6-8 breaths/min)

Answer

1 breath every 2-3 seconds (20-30 breaths/min)

Question 3

Which of the following is considered the most reliable method for confirming initial and ongoing placement of an endotracheal tube in a patient with a perfusing rhythm?

Accepted Answer

Continuous waveform capnography

Answer

Bilateral breath sounds on auscultation

Answer

Condensation in the endotracheal tube

Answer

Use of an esophageal detector device (EDD)

Question 4

You are managing a patient following a traumatic injury and suspect a cervical spine injury. The patient is unconscious and requires airway management. Which manual maneuver is most appropriate for opening the airway in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Jaw-thrust maneuver

Answer

Head-tilt, chin-lift

Answer

Flexion of the neck

Answer

Head-tilt, neck-lift

Question 5

A paramedic has made three unsuccessful attempts at endotracheal intubation on an apneic patient. Oxygen saturation is being maintained at 94% with bag-valve-mask ventilation between attempts. According to difficult airway algorithms, what is the appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Declare a failed airway and proceed to a rescue airway device (e.g., SGA)

Answer

Attempt intubation a fourth time using a different blade

Answer

Perform an emergency cricothyrotomy immediately

Answer

Continue BVM ventilation and transport rapidly

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of using a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)?

Accepted Answer

To bypass upper airway obstruction at the level of the tongue in a patient with a gag reflex

Answer

To isolate the trachea for endotracheal intubation

Answer

To provide a definitive, long-term airway in an unresponsive patient

Answer

To prevent aspiration of gastric contents