Airway equipment: Miller blade: 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.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Airway equipment: Miller blade

Sample item

Why is a straight Miller blade often preferred in infants?

AThe larynx is anterior and the epiglottis is long and floppy, so direct lifting gives a better viewBIt reduces the need for a styletCIt has a wider flange for the tongueDIt avoids any risk of airway trauma

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. The larynx is anterior and the epiglottis is long and floppy, so direct lifting gives a better view

In infants the larynx is high and anterior and the epiglottis is omega-shaped and floppy, so a straight blade that picks up the epiglottis directly gives a better view. It is the preferred blade up to about 2 years.

Option by option

A. The larynx is anterior and the epiglottis is long and floppy, so direct lifting gives a better view (correct)
Correct. Direct epiglottis lifting suits the infant airway.
B. It reduces the need for a stylet
Stylet use depends on the technique and not on blade type.
C. It has a wider flange for the tongue
A wider flange is a feature of the Macintosh blade.
D. It avoids any risk of airway trauma
No blade avoids all trauma risk.

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.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, The larynx is anterior and the epiglottis is long and floppy, so direct lifting gives a better view. In infants the larynx is high and anterior and the epiglottis is omega-shaped and floppy, so a straight blade that picks up the epiglottis directly gives a better view.

Why is "It reduces the need for a stylet" not the answer?

Stylet use depends on the technique and not on blade type.

Why is "It has a wider flange for the tongue" not the answer?

A wider flange is a feature of the Macintosh blade.

Why is "It avoids any risk of airway trauma" not the answer?

No blade avoids all trauma risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway equipment: Miller blade in Anaesthesia. It is the preferred blade up to about 2 years.

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 equipment: Miller blade?

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.