Airway equipment: Magill forceps: 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 · Airway equipment: Magill forceps

Sample item

For what purpose are Magill forceps used during nasotracheal intubation?

ATo inflate the cuffBTo dilate the nasal passageCTo guide the tube tip through the glottis under direct visionDTo suction the airway

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. To guide the tube tip through the glottis under direct vision

After a nasal tube is passed into the oropharynx, Magill forceps are used to grasp it above the cuff and steer the tip through the vocal cords under laryngoscopic vision. The forceps are angled so that they do not obstruct the view. They are also used to remove foreign bodies from the pharynx.

Option by option

A. To inflate the cuff
The cuff is inflated by syringe.
B. To dilate the nasal passage
Nasal dilators or lubricated airways are used for dilation.
C. To guide the tube tip through the glottis under direct vision (correct)
Correct. The forceps direct the tip into the larynx.
D. To suction the airway
A suction catheter is used to clear 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.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, To guide the tube tip through the glottis under direct vision. After a nasal tube is passed into the oropharynx, Magill forceps are used to grasp it above the cuff and steer the tip through the vocal cords under laryngoscopic vision.

Why is "To inflate the cuff" not the answer?

The cuff is inflated by syringe.

Why is "To dilate the nasal passage" not the answer?

Nasal dilators or lubricated airways are used for dilation.

Why is "To suction the airway" not the answer?

A suction catheter is used to clear the airway.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway equipment: Magill forceps in Anaesthesia. The forceps are angled so that they do not obstruct the view. They are also used to remove foreign bodies from the pharynx.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 equipment: Magill forceps?

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.