Airway management: intubating laryngeal mask: 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: intubating laryngeal mask

Sample item

Which supraglottic device is designed to act as a conduit for blind passage of a tracheal tube in an anticipated difficult airway?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach)

The intubating laryngeal mask has a rigid curved shaft, a handle and an epiglottic elevating bar, so a dedicated tube can be passed blindly through it into the trachea after ventilation is established. The ProSeal and i-gel provide gastric drainage channels but are not designed for blind intubation.

Option by option

  • A. ProSeal laryngeal mask

    The ProSeal has a drain tube for gastric access and is used for ventilation, not as an intubation guide.

  • B. Classic laryngeal mask

    The classic mask is for ventilation, and passing a tube through it blindly is unreliable.

  • C. i-gel

    The i-gel has a gastric channel and is not designed for blind passage of a cuffed tube.

  • D. Intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach) (correct)

    Correct. It is built to guide a tracheal tube through it into the larynx.

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 D, Intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach). The intubating laryngeal mask has a rigid curved shaft, a handle and an epiglottic elevating bar, so a dedicated tube can be passed blindly through it into the trachea after ventilation is established.

Why is "ProSeal laryngeal mask" not the answer?

The ProSeal has a drain tube for gastric access and is used for ventilation, not as an intubation guide.

Why is "Classic laryngeal mask" not the answer?

The classic mask is for ventilation, and passing a tube through it blindly is unreliable.

Why is "i-gel" not the answer?

The i-gel has a gastric channel and is not designed for blind passage of a cuffed tube.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: intubating laryngeal mask in Anaesthesia. The ProSeal and i-gel provide gastric drainage channels but are not designed for blind intubation.

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: intubating laryngeal mask?

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.