Paramedic Airway Management 2026 Study
Guide Practice Questions Answer
Explanations Intubation Ventilation
Oxygenation Airway Emergencies Clinical
Scenarios Exam Preparation
Section 1: Airway Anatomy, Assessment, and Physiology (1–10)
1. What is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction in an
unresponsive adult?
A) Epiglottitis
B) Tongue displacement
C) Laryngeal spasm
D) Foreign body
Answer: B) Tongue displacement
Rationale: In an unresponsive patient, loss of muscle tone allows the tongue to fall
back against the posterior pharynx, causing obstruction.
2. A Mallampati score of IV indicates:
A) Easy intubation
B) Difficult intubation
C) Normal airway
D) No airway risk
Answer: B) Difficult intubation
Rationale: Mallampati IV means only the hard palate is visible, suggesting a
difficult laryngoscopic view.
3. Stridor is most indicative of:
,A) Lower airway obstruction
B) Upper airway obstruction
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Pneumonia
Answer: B) Upper airway obstruction
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched inspiratory sound caused by turbulent airflow
through a narrowed upper airway.
4. Snoring respirations in an unresponsive patient indicate:
A) Complete airway obstruction
B) Partial airway obstruction by the tongue
C) Normal breathing
D) Lower airway disease
Answer: B) Partial airway obstruction by the tongue
Rationale: Snoring occurs when the tongue partially obstructs the posterior
pharynx.
5. Gurgling respirations indicate the need for:
A) Immediate suctioning
B) Needle decompression
C) CPAP
D) Chest compressions
Answer: A) Immediate suctioning
Rationale: Gurgling indicates fluid, blood, vomit, or secretions in the airway that
must be suctioned.
6. A patient sitting upright, leaning forward, and drooling most likely has:
A) Asthma
B) Epiglottitis
,C) COPD
D) Pneumothorax
Answer: B) Epiglottitis
Rationale: Tripod positioning, drooling, and stridor are classic for epiglottitis or
severe upper airway obstruction.
7. Accessory muscle use during breathing indicates:
A) Increased work of breathing
B) Normal breathing
C) Adequate ventilation
D) No respiratory distress
Answer: A) Increased work of breathing
Rationale: Retractions, nasal flaring, and accessory muscle use indicate
respiratory distress.
8. The LEMON airway assessment includes:
A) Look, Evaluate, Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck
B) Listen, Examine, Monitor, Oxygen, NPA
C) Laryngoscope, ETT, Mask, Oxygen, NPA
D) Lung, Ear, Mouth, Nose, Oxygen
Answer: A) Look, Evaluate, Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck
Rationale: LEMON predicts difficult intubation: Look externally, Evaluate 3-3-2,
Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck mobility.
9. Which maneuver is preferred for opening the airway in a trauma patient
with suspected spinal injury?
A) Head tilt-chin lift
B) Jaw thrust
C) Neck extension
D) Recovery position
, Answer: B) Jaw thrust
Rationale: Jaw thrust opens the airway while minimizing cervical spine
movement.
10. What does the 3-3-2 rule assess?
A) Mouth opening, mandibular space, and hyoid-to-thyroid distance
B) ETT size, depth, and cuff pressure
C) Oxygen flow, SpO2, and ETCO2
D) Suction, BVM, and OPA
Answer: A) Mouth opening, mandibular space, and hyoid-to-thyroid distance
Rationale: The 3-3-2 rule helps predict difficult laryngoscopy based on airway
anatomy.
Section 2: Oxygenation and Ventilation (11–20)
11. Hypoxemia is best defined as:
A) Decreased oxygen in arterial blood
B) Decreased oxygen in tissues
C) Increased carbon dioxide
D) Normal oxygen saturation
Answer: A) Decreased oxygen in arterial blood
Rationale: Hypoxemia is low PaO2 or SpO2. Hypoxia is inadequate oxygen
delivery to tissues.
12. Which device provides the highest FiO2?
A) Nasal cannula
B) Simple face mask
C) Non-rebreather mask
D) Venturi mask
Answer: C) Non-rebreather mask
Guide Practice Questions Answer
Explanations Intubation Ventilation
Oxygenation Airway Emergencies Clinical
Scenarios Exam Preparation
Section 1: Airway Anatomy, Assessment, and Physiology (1–10)
1. What is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction in an
unresponsive adult?
A) Epiglottitis
B) Tongue displacement
C) Laryngeal spasm
D) Foreign body
Answer: B) Tongue displacement
Rationale: In an unresponsive patient, loss of muscle tone allows the tongue to fall
back against the posterior pharynx, causing obstruction.
2. A Mallampati score of IV indicates:
A) Easy intubation
B) Difficult intubation
C) Normal airway
D) No airway risk
Answer: B) Difficult intubation
Rationale: Mallampati IV means only the hard palate is visible, suggesting a
difficult laryngoscopic view.
3. Stridor is most indicative of:
,A) Lower airway obstruction
B) Upper airway obstruction
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Pneumonia
Answer: B) Upper airway obstruction
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched inspiratory sound caused by turbulent airflow
through a narrowed upper airway.
4. Snoring respirations in an unresponsive patient indicate:
A) Complete airway obstruction
B) Partial airway obstruction by the tongue
C) Normal breathing
D) Lower airway disease
Answer: B) Partial airway obstruction by the tongue
Rationale: Snoring occurs when the tongue partially obstructs the posterior
pharynx.
5. Gurgling respirations indicate the need for:
A) Immediate suctioning
B) Needle decompression
C) CPAP
D) Chest compressions
Answer: A) Immediate suctioning
Rationale: Gurgling indicates fluid, blood, vomit, or secretions in the airway that
must be suctioned.
6. A patient sitting upright, leaning forward, and drooling most likely has:
A) Asthma
B) Epiglottitis
,C) COPD
D) Pneumothorax
Answer: B) Epiglottitis
Rationale: Tripod positioning, drooling, and stridor are classic for epiglottitis or
severe upper airway obstruction.
7. Accessory muscle use during breathing indicates:
A) Increased work of breathing
B) Normal breathing
C) Adequate ventilation
D) No respiratory distress
Answer: A) Increased work of breathing
Rationale: Retractions, nasal flaring, and accessory muscle use indicate
respiratory distress.
8. The LEMON airway assessment includes:
A) Look, Evaluate, Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck
B) Listen, Examine, Monitor, Oxygen, NPA
C) Laryngoscope, ETT, Mask, Oxygen, NPA
D) Lung, Ear, Mouth, Nose, Oxygen
Answer: A) Look, Evaluate, Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck
Rationale: LEMON predicts difficult intubation: Look externally, Evaluate 3-3-2,
Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck mobility.
9. Which maneuver is preferred for opening the airway in a trauma patient
with suspected spinal injury?
A) Head tilt-chin lift
B) Jaw thrust
C) Neck extension
D) Recovery position
, Answer: B) Jaw thrust
Rationale: Jaw thrust opens the airway while minimizing cervical spine
movement.
10. What does the 3-3-2 rule assess?
A) Mouth opening, mandibular space, and hyoid-to-thyroid distance
B) ETT size, depth, and cuff pressure
C) Oxygen flow, SpO2, and ETCO2
D) Suction, BVM, and OPA
Answer: A) Mouth opening, mandibular space, and hyoid-to-thyroid distance
Rationale: The 3-3-2 rule helps predict difficult laryngoscopy based on airway
anatomy.
Section 2: Oxygenation and Ventilation (11–20)
11. Hypoxemia is best defined as:
A) Decreased oxygen in arterial blood
B) Decreased oxygen in tissues
C) Increased carbon dioxide
D) Normal oxygen saturation
Answer: A) Decreased oxygen in arterial blood
Rationale: Hypoxemia is low PaO2 or SpO2. Hypoxia is inadequate oxygen
delivery to tissues.
12. Which device provides the highest FiO2?
A) Nasal cannula
B) Simple face mask
C) Non-rebreather mask
D) Venturi mask
Answer: C) Non-rebreather mask
