Airway management: regurgitation during induction: 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: regurgitation during induction

Sample item

During a rapid sequence induction, gastric contents are seen welling up in the pharynx before the tube has been passed. What is the immediate action?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Tilt the table head-down and suction the pharynx before intubating

Head-down tilt makes the fluid drain towards the pharynx and away from the trachea, then suction clears it, and the patient is intubated promptly with the cuff inflated before ventilation. Positive-pressure mask ventilation forces contents into the lungs. A supraglottic device does not seal the trachea.

Option by option

  • A. Insert a laryngeal mask to protect the airway

    A laryngeal mask does not protect the trachea against regurgitated contents.

  • B. Sit the patient up and wait

    Sitting up makes aspiration more likely and delays securing the airway.

  • C. Ventilate vigorously with 100 percent oxygen by mask

    Forced ventilation would push contents into the trachea and lungs.

  • D. Tilt the table head-down and suction the pharynx before intubating (correct)

    Correct. Head-down tilt and suction keep the contents out of the lungs until the airway is secured.

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, Tilt the table head-down and suction the pharynx before intubating. Head-down tilt makes the fluid drain towards the pharynx and away from the trachea, then suction clears it, and the patient is intubated promptly with the cuff inflated before ventilation.

Why is "Insert a laryngeal mask to protect the airway" not the answer?

A laryngeal mask does not protect the trachea against regurgitated contents.

Why is "Sit the patient up and wait" not the answer?

Sitting up makes aspiration more likely and delays securing the airway.

Why is "Ventilate vigorously with 100 percent oxygen by mask" not the answer?

Forced ventilation would push contents into the trachea and lungs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: regurgitation during induction in Anaesthesia. Positive-pressure mask ventilation forces contents into the lungs. A supraglottic device does not seal the trachea.

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: regurgitation during induction?

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.