Airway management: Combitube: 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 management: Combitube

Sample item

A paramedic inserts a blind double-lumen airway with two cuffs, and it usually ends in the oesophagus after insertion, allowing ventilation through pharyngeal perforations. Which device is this?

ALeft double-lumen bronchial tubeBOesophageal-tracheal CombitubeCNasopharyngeal airwayDIntubating laryngeal mask

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Oesophageal-tracheal Combitube

The Combitube is a blind-insertion double-lumen device that usually lies in the oesophagus, with ventilation through perforations in the pharyngeal segment. It is used in emergencies and out-of-hospital care. A double-lumen bronchial tube is for lung isolation.

Option by option

A. Left double-lumen bronchial tube
A double-lumen bronchial tube is placed under vision for lung isolation.
B. Oesophageal-tracheal Combitube (correct)
Correct. A two-cuff blind-insertion tube that usually enters the oesophagus is a Combitube.
C. Nasopharyngeal airway
A nasopharyngeal airway is a single uncuffed tube.
D. Intubating laryngeal mask
An intubating laryngeal mask is a supraglottic device with a single cuff.

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 B, Oesophageal-tracheal Combitube. The Combitube is a blind-insertion double-lumen device that usually lies in the oesophagus, with ventilation through perforations in the pharyngeal segment.

Why is "Left double-lumen bronchial tube" not the answer?

A double-lumen bronchial tube is placed under vision for lung isolation.

Why is "Nasopharyngeal airway" not the answer?

A nasopharyngeal airway is a single uncuffed tube.

Why is "Intubating laryngeal mask" not the answer?

An intubating laryngeal mask is a supraglottic device with a single cuff.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: Combitube in Anaesthesia. It is used in emergencies and out-of-hospital care. A double-lumen bronchial tube is for lung isolation.

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: Combitube?

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.