Airway equipment

Question 1

What are the anaesthetics assistant’s responsibilities regarding airway equipment

Answer 1

Must have working knowledge of equipment:

1. how to check if it is in working order
2. how to assemble requirements for reprocessing/single use
3. how it connects to other equipment
4. your role in its use

Question 2

Purpose of Guedel airway

Answer 2

Oro-pharyngeal airway maintains patency of upper airway Used to overcome backward tongue displacement in unconscious patient

Question 3

Disadvantages of Guedel airway

Answer 3

Can cause trauma to structures Risk of gag reflex stimulation and vomiting

Question 4

How to size a guedel

Answer 4

Measure from the patients incisors to the angle of the jaw Most common size 2,3,4

Question 5

How to insert a guedel

Answer 5

Insert upside down and then rotate 180 degrees as it passes beyond the hard palate and into the oropharynx

Question 6

Laryngoscope with manoeuvrable tip

Answer 6

McCoy blade

Question 7

Types of laryngoscope blade?

Answer 7

1. Macintosh - curved blade size 3 and 4
2. McCoy -manoeuvrable tip
3. Miller blade-straight blade

Question 8

How should a nasopharyngeal airway be inserted

Answer 8

Lubricate well insert along floor of nose with slight twisting action if obstruction try other nostrils safety pin

Question 9

Common sizes of nasopharyngeal airway

Answer 9

6mm and 7mm Size is important as if too long can stimulate laryngel and pharyngeal reflexes

Question 10

Function of bougie

Answer 10

It is used when vocal cords are difficutl to visualsie

Insert through vocal cords and rail road ET tube over it.

Question 11

Function of Magills forceps

Answer 11

Used to:

• Direct ET tube towards the larynx and vocal cords
• insert throat packs
• insert NG tubes
• remove foreign bodies

Question 12

What equipment is used to connect the patient to the anaesthetic circuit

Answer 12

Face masks

HME filter/bacterial filter

catheter mount