Airway management: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Airway management

Sample item

A 30-year-old man with a distended abdomen from acute intestinal obstruction, who vomited an hour ago, needs emergency laparotomy. Which induction plan best reduces the risk of aspiration?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Rapid sequence induction with preoxygenation, cricoid pressure and a cuffed tube

A full stomach calls for rapid sequence induction, which shortens the time during which the airway is unprotected. Gastric decompression with a nasogastric tube is also useful. Preoxygenation provides a safe apnoeic period so that mask ventilation can be avoided.

Option by option

  • A. Intravenous induction followed by gentle mask ventilation before intubation

    Positive-pressure mask ventilation insufflates the stomach and increases the risk of regurgitation.

  • B. Slow inhalational induction with sevoflurane in a spontaneously breathing patient

    Slow inhalational induction leaves protective reflexes depressed and the airway unprotected for a long time.

  • C. A supraglottic airway under light sedation with spontaneous breathing

    A supraglottic airway does not seal the airway reliably against regurgitated gastric contents.

  • D. Rapid sequence induction with preoxygenation, cricoid pressure and a cuffed tube (correct)

    Correct. The airway is secured with a cuffed tube as quickly as possible, avoiding stomach insufflation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is D, Rapid sequence induction with preoxygenation, cricoid pressure and a cuffed tube. A full stomach calls for rapid sequence induction, which shortens the time during which the airway is unprotected.

Why is "Intravenous induction followed by gentle mask ventilation before intu…" not the answer?

Positive-pressure mask ventilation insufflates the stomach and increases the risk of regurgitation.

Why is "Slow inhalational induction with sevoflurane in a spontaneously breat…" not the answer?

Slow inhalational induction leaves protective reflexes depressed and the airway unprotected for a long time.

Why is "A supraglottic airway under light sedation with spontaneous breathing" not the answer?

A supraglottic airway does not seal the airway reliably against regurgitated gastric contents.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management in Anaesthesia. Gastric decompression with a nasogastric tube is also useful. Preoxygenation provides a safe apnoeic period so that mask ventilation can be avoided.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Airway management?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.