Larynx and airway: emergency ventilation after laryngectomy: 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: emergency ventilation after laryngectomy

Sample item

A man who had a total laryngectomy 3 years ago collapses at home and is unresponsive. Where should the rescuer deliver rescue breaths?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Through the tracheostoma in the neck

After total laryngectomy the airway is separated from the mouth and nose and opens only at the permanent end tracheostoma. Such patients are neck breathers, so ventilation must be through the stoma.

Option by option

  • A. Through the tracheostoma in the neck (correct)

    Correct. The stoma is the only airway opening, so breaths go there.

  • B. After inserting an oropharyngeal airway

    An oropharyngeal airway does not open any route to the trachea.

  • C. Mouth to mouth with the nose pinched

    Air given by mouth enters the food passage, not the trachea.

  • D. Through the nose with the mouth closed

    The nose no longer connects to the lungs after laryngectomy.

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, Through the tracheostoma in the neck. After total laryngectomy the airway is separated from the mouth and nose and opens only at the permanent end tracheostoma.

Why is "After inserting an oropharyngeal airway" not the answer?

An oropharyngeal airway does not open any route to the trachea.

Why is "Mouth to mouth with the nose pinched" not the answer?

Air given by mouth enters the food passage, not the trachea.

Why is "Through the nose with the mouth closed" not the answer?

The nose no longer connects to the lungs after laryngectomy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: emergency ventilation after laryngectomy in ENT. Such patients are neck breathers, so ventilation must be through the stoma.

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: emergency ventilation after laryngectomy?

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.