Airway management: neck flexion and tube position: 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 management: neck flexion and tube position

Sample item

After intubation with the head in the sniffing position, the patient is repositioned with the neck flexed for surgery. What happens to the tracheal tube?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. It advances towards the carina

Neck flexion moves the tube tip deeper by about 1 to 2 cm, so endobronchial intubation is possible, while extension withdraws it and may extubate the cords. The position of the tube should therefore be rechecked after any change in head position.

Option by option

  • A. It rotates laterally and kinks

    Rotation and kinking are not the usual result of flexion.

  • B. It advances towards the carina (correct)

    Correct. Flexion moves the tip toward the carina, risking endobronchial intubation.

  • C. It withdraws towards the cords

    Withdrawal occurs with neck extension, not flexion.

  • D. It stays at the same level

    The tube moves with the trachea whenever the head position changes.

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 B, It advances towards the carina. Neck flexion moves the tube tip deeper by about 1 to 2 cm, so endobronchial intubation is possible, while extension withdraws it and may extubate the cords.

Why is "It rotates laterally and kinks" not the answer?

Rotation and kinking are not the usual result of flexion.

Why is "It withdraws towards the cords" not the answer?

Withdrawal occurs with neck extension, not flexion.

Why is "It stays at the same level" not the answer?

The tube moves with the trachea whenever the head position changes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: neck flexion and tube position in Anaesthesia. The position of the tube should therefore be rechecked after any change in head position.

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 management: neck flexion and tube position?

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.