Airway Management Study Guide
Multiple Choice
Short Answer
Scenario
50-70
3-5
2-4
Total
60-80
Questions for this exam will be based upon information contained in classroom presentations, notes,
handouts and the Textbook. Multiple choice and scenario questions may require the student to
critically analyze the question and potential answers in order to identify the Most Correct answer(s).
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Explain the primary objective of airway maintenance
Identify the general anatomy of the upper and the lower airway
Describe the functions of the upper and lower airway
Discuss differences between adult and pediatric airway anatomy
Explain the relationship between pulmonary circulation and respiration
List the concentrations of the three gases which comprise the majority of atmospheric
air
7. Describe the measurement of oxygen in the blood
8. Describe the measurement of carbon dioxide in the blood
9. Describe peak expiratory flow. In which patients might this measurement be useful?
10. List factors that cause decreased oxygen concentrations in the blood
11. List the factors that increase and decrease carbon dioxide production in the body
12. Define atelectasis
13. Define FiO2
14. Define and differentiate hypoxia and hypoxemia
15. Describe in detail the involuntary regulation of ventilation and respiration
16. Define the normal ventilatory rates (ranges) for the adult, child and infant patient
17. List the factors that affect ventilatory rate and depth
18. Define pulsus paradoxes
19. Define complete airway obstruction
20. Describe possible causes of upper airway obstruction
21. Describe manual airway maneuvers
22. Describe the Sellick maneuver and its common uses
23. Describe complete airway obstruction relief maneuvers (Basic and Advanced)
24. Explain the purpose of suctioning the upper airway
25. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the hard/rigid suction catheter and soft
catheters
26. Describe the technique for tracheobronchial suctioning in the intubated patient
27. Define gastric distention
28. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, potential
complications, and technique for inserting a nasogastric tube and orogastric tube
29. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of ventilating a patient by: mouth to
mask, one person BVM, two person BVM and three person BVM
EMS Professions
Temple College
EMSP 1356
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Airway Management Study Guide
30. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, and potential
complications for using an automatic transport ventilator
31. Explain safety considerations of oxygen storage and delivery
32. Describe the use, advantages and disadvantages of an oxygen humidifier
33. Define and describe a tracheostomy, stoma and tracheostomy tube
34. Define and describe a laryngectomy
35. Discuss how to ventilate a patient with a stoma including mouth to stoma and BVM
to stoma ventilation
36. Differentiate endotracheal intubation from other methods of advanced airway
management
37. Describe how the paramedic could use laryngoscopy for the removal of a foreign
body airway obstruction
38. Describe indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
equipment and the technique for direct laryngoscopy
39. Discuss the use of cricoid pressure during intubation. What is the other name for this
technique?
40. Describe the visual landmarks used when performing direct laryngoscopy
41. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
technique, and equipment for using a dual lumen airway. When discussing technique
and equipment, use the combitube and LMA as your examples.
42. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for rapid sequence intubation using sedation & neuromuscular
blocking agents
43. Identify neuromuscular blocking agents and other agents commonly used in rapid
sequence intubation
44. Identify sedative and induction agents used in airway management
45. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for nasotracheal intubation
46. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for performing a surgical cricothyrotomy
47. Describe the equipment and technique for performing a surgical cricothyrotomy
48. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for translaryngeal catheter ventilation (needle cricothyrotomy)
49. Describe at least 3 methods of assessment for confirming correct placement of an
endotracheal tube
50. Describe methods for securing an endotracheal tube and for minimizing the risk of
accidental dislodgment
51. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for endotracheal tube extubation
52. Describe differences in endotracheal intubation for the pediatric patient
53. Discuss differences in anatomy by comparing the adult airway to the pediatric airway
54. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax
55. Discuss the signs and symptoms of tension pneumothorax
56. Describe the indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, complications,
and equipment for placement of a gastric tube to relieve gastric distention
EMS Professions
Temple College
EMSP 1356
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Airway Management Study Guide
57. Briefly discuss how one could identify an appropriately sized gastric tube for
nasogastric intubation
58. List the appropriate sizes of endotracheal tubes for a typical adult male and female
59. Describe methods useful in determining the appropriate sizes of endotracheal tubes
for a pediatric patient
60. List the appropriate size of endotracheal tube given a patient in the age groups of:
premature, newborn, 1 year, and 2-8 years of age
61. Discuss the appropriate depth of insertion for the endotracheal tube in an adult
62. Discuss a method of determining the appropriate depth of insertion for the
endotracheal tube in a pediatric patient
63. Discuss why laryngoscopy is used and how it relates to the alignment of the planes of
view for vocal cord visualization
64. Discuss methods used to recognize patients who may be candidates for difficult
intubation
65. Discuss the differences in the use of the curved vs the straight laryngoscope blades
66. Discuss the steps used in the technique of digital intubation
67. Discuss the indications and technique of performing a chest escharotomy
68. Discuss the potential hazards and infectious disease risks encountered by the
paramedic during a variety of advanced airway management techniques
EMS Professions
Temple College
EMSP 1356
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