Airway management: awake fibreoptic intubation: 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: awake fibreoptic intubation

Sample item

In which patient is an awake fibreoptic intubation especially appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Anticipated difficult airway with an unstable cervical spine

Awake fibreoptic intubation preserves spontaneous breathing and muscle tone and allows neurological checks after intubation, so it suits anticipated difficult airways and unstable cervical spines. It needs topical anaesthesia and sedation.

Option by option

  • A. Full-term pregnant woman for routine epidural

    Epidural does not need intubation.

  • B. Healthy adult for elective knee arthroscopy

    A healthy patient with a normal airway does not need it.

  • C. Child with isolated cleft lip

    A child with cleft lip rarely needs awake fibreoptic intubation.

  • D. Anticipated difficult airway with an unstable cervical spine (correct)

    Correct. It keeps the airway patent and avoids neck movement.

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, Anticipated difficult airway with an unstable cervical spine. Awake fibreoptic intubation preserves spontaneous breathing and muscle tone and allows neurological checks after intubation, so it suits anticipated difficult airways and unstable cervical spines.

Why is "Full-term pregnant woman for routine epidural" not the answer?

Epidural does not need intubation.

Why is "Healthy adult for elective knee arthroscopy" not the answer?

A healthy patient with a normal airway does not need it.

Why is "Child with isolated cleft lip" not the answer?

A child with cleft lip rarely needs awake fibreoptic intubation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: awake fibreoptic intubation in Anaesthesia. It needs topical anaesthesia and sedation.

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: awake fibreoptic intubation?

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.