Larynx and airway: needle cricothyroidotomy in a child: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Larynx and airway: needle cricothyroidotomy in a child

Sample item

A 7-year-old with complete upper airway obstruction from a foreign body cannot be intubated or ventilated, and rescue manoeuvres have failed. Which emergency airway is preferred?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation

In young children, usually under about 12 years, the cricothyroid membrane is small and the cricoid is the narrowest part of the airway, so surgical cricothyroidotomy risks subglottic stenosis. Needle cricothyroidotomy with oxygen insufflation is advised as a temporising measure until formal tracheostomy or bronchoscopy.

Option by option

  • A. Needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation (correct)

    Correct. Needle cricothyroidotomy is the recommended emergency access in a small child.

  • B. Surgical cricothyroidotomy

    Surgical cricothyroidotomy is avoided in small children because of the risk of cricoid injury.

  • C. Nasopharyngeal airway

    A nasopharyngeal airway cannot bypass a laryngeal or tracheal obstruction.

  • D. Elective tracheostomy in the ward

    An elective tracheostomy cannot be done in the ward during complete obstruction.

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 ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation. In young children, usually under about 12 years, the cricothyroid membrane is small and the cricoid is the narrowest part of the airway, so surgical cricothyroidotomy risks subglottic stenosis.

Why is "Surgical cricothyroidotomy" not the answer?

Surgical cricothyroidotomy is avoided in small children because of the risk of cricoid injury.

Why is "Nasopharyngeal airway" not the answer?

A nasopharyngeal airway cannot bypass a laryngeal or tracheal obstruction.

Why is "Elective tracheostomy in the ward" not the answer?

An elective tracheostomy cannot be done in the ward during complete obstruction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: needle cricothyroidotomy in a child in ENT. Needle cricothyroidotomy with oxygen insufflation is advised as a temporising measure until formal tracheostomy or bronchoscopy.

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 Larynx and airway: needle cricothyroidotomy in a child?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.