Difficult Airway Management – Post Test

Which of the following is most likely to indicate potentially difficult bag-valve mask (BVM) ventilation?

Which of the following airway items is the most important to have in the resuscitation room?

A 23-year-old has been involved in a car crash. He requires intubation for respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary contusions. Following one failed attempt at intubation, his saturations have dropped from 98% to 92%.

What is the most appropriate course of action?

A 67-year-old patient with community-acquired pneumonia presents with hypoxia resistant to oxygen via a non-rebreathing mask (saturations of 82%). Following induction of anaesthesia, her saturations can be maintained at 94% with BVM ventilation but repeated attempts at intubation and placement of an LMA have failed.

What is the most appropriate course of action?

A morbidly obese 60-year-old man with a beard has been involved in a road traffic accident.

He has been complaining of significant neck pain and has developed severe hypoxia as a result of a flail chest with pulmonary contusions.

Following induction of anaesthesia, it is proving impossible to maintain saturations above 70% with BVM ventilation and three attempts at intubation have failed.

What is the most appropriate course of action?