Complications: airway fire: 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.

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Anaesthesia · Complications: airway fire

Sample item

During laser excision of a laryngeal lesion, the tracheal tube ignites. What is the first action?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Stop the gas flow and remove the burning tube

In an airway fire, the first steps are to stop the flow of oxidising gases and remove the burning tube at once. The airway is then ventilated with air or oxygen by mask and examined with a bronchoscope for injury and debris. Prevention includes using laser-resistant tubes and keeping FiO2 as low as feasible and avoiding nitrous oxide.

Option by option

  • A. Stop the gas flow and remove the burning tube (correct)

    Correct. Cutting off the oxidiser and removing the fuel stops the fire.

  • B. Increase oxygen to 100%

    Increasing oxygen feeds the fire.

  • C. Pour saline into the airway only

    Irrigation alone does not remove the burning tube or the oxidiser.

  • D. Call for help and observe

    Delay allows further thermal injury to the airway.

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.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, Stop the gas flow and remove the burning tube. In an airway fire, the first steps are to stop the flow of oxidising gases and remove the burning tube at once.

Why is "Increase oxygen to 100%" not the answer?

Increasing oxygen feeds the fire.

Why is "Pour saline into the airway only" not the answer?

Irrigation alone does not remove the burning tube or the oxidiser.

Why is "Call for help and observe" not the answer?

Delay allows further thermal injury to the airway.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications: airway fire in Anaesthesia. The airway is then ventilated with air or oxygen by mask and examined with a bronchoscope for injury and debris. Prevention includes using laser-resistant tubes and keeping FiO2 as low as feasible and avoiding nitrous oxide.

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 Complications: airway fire?

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.