Airway Exam 1 Questions
with Complete Solutions
What is arguably the single most important aspect of an assessment? - ANSWERSAssessing the
airway
If there is a question about airway history, what should the anesthesia provider try to do? -
ANSWERSObtain old airway records.
T/F: The airway exam is not 100% predictive of a difficult airway. - ANSWERSTrue.
What is the *most* predictive factor of a difficult airway? - ANSWERSHistory of difficult
intubation.
T/F: adverse airway events constitute the second largest source of injury in the Closed Claims
Project, at 64% of all claims in the 2000s. - ANSWERSFalse. Adverse respiratory events are the
SINGLE largest source of injury.
The three primary factors that contribute to the 64% Closed Claims Project value are: -
ANSWERSInadequate ventilation (25%)
Difficult intubation (22%)
Esophageal intubation (6%)
T/F: intubation should be the first priority when in charge of a patients airway. - ANSWERSFalse,
ventilation is first priority. There are mx ways to ventilate a pt, don't get hung up on intubation.
, Name some components of an airway exam (there are many, slide 5) - ANSWERS-Length of
upper incisors
-Condition of teeth
-Occlusion and mouth opening
-Mandibular advance
-Interincisor/Inter gum distance
-Visibility of uvula
-Facial hair
-Thyromental distance
-Length of neck
-Neck circumference
-ROM of head and neck
What should a patients interincisor distance be to facilitate intubation? - ANSWERS>3cm (2
fingerbreadths)
(Don't stick your finger down their throat without telling them first)
Why is it important to observe the patient's ability to occlude their jaw? - ANSWERSIndicates
jaw ROM, and the overall alignment of the jaw.
What is another term for thyromental distance? What measurement should this space be? -
ANSWERSSubmental space.
>3 fingerbreadths (>6 cm)
How do you assess the submandibular space? - ANSWERSThyromental distance exam, from the
thyroid notch to the lower border of the mentum. Should be > 6 cm (>3 fingerbreadths)
with Complete Solutions
What is arguably the single most important aspect of an assessment? - ANSWERSAssessing the
airway
If there is a question about airway history, what should the anesthesia provider try to do? -
ANSWERSObtain old airway records.
T/F: The airway exam is not 100% predictive of a difficult airway. - ANSWERSTrue.
What is the *most* predictive factor of a difficult airway? - ANSWERSHistory of difficult
intubation.
T/F: adverse airway events constitute the second largest source of injury in the Closed Claims
Project, at 64% of all claims in the 2000s. - ANSWERSFalse. Adverse respiratory events are the
SINGLE largest source of injury.
The three primary factors that contribute to the 64% Closed Claims Project value are: -
ANSWERSInadequate ventilation (25%)
Difficult intubation (22%)
Esophageal intubation (6%)
T/F: intubation should be the first priority when in charge of a patients airway. - ANSWERSFalse,
ventilation is first priority. There are mx ways to ventilate a pt, don't get hung up on intubation.
, Name some components of an airway exam (there are many, slide 5) - ANSWERS-Length of
upper incisors
-Condition of teeth
-Occlusion and mouth opening
-Mandibular advance
-Interincisor/Inter gum distance
-Visibility of uvula
-Facial hair
-Thyromental distance
-Length of neck
-Neck circumference
-ROM of head and neck
What should a patients interincisor distance be to facilitate intubation? - ANSWERS>3cm (2
fingerbreadths)
(Don't stick your finger down their throat without telling them first)
Why is it important to observe the patient's ability to occlude their jaw? - ANSWERSIndicates
jaw ROM, and the overall alignment of the jaw.
What is another term for thyromental distance? What measurement should this space be? -
ANSWERSSubmental space.
>3 fingerbreadths (>6 cm)
How do you assess the submandibular space? - ANSWERSThyromental distance exam, from the
thyroid notch to the lower border of the mentum. Should be > 6 cm (>3 fingerbreadths)
