Anaesthesia & Critical Care

20 learning units • 100 chapter sections • 200 explained questions. Prepare patients for anaesthesia, recognise perioperative emergencies and understand organ support, critical-care teamwork and recovery.

Original RAHBAR study material for the Year 5 learning pathway. Clinical cases support supervised undergraduate learning. Treatment choices, doses and procedures must follow current local protocols and the responsible clinical team. References & further reading ↓

MODULE 04 / 20

Airway Assessment & Difficult Airway Planning

Prioritise oxygenation and recognise when airway management needs expert escalation.

Choose an answer and check it immediately. Change your choice to try again. This is a self-study exercise; results are not saved.

Question 01. Are difficult mask ventilation and difficult intubation identical problems? A. YesB. Only in childrenC. NoD. Only during emergency surgery

Question 02. Why assess physiological reserve before airway intervention? A. Anatomy is the only relevant factorB. Saturation can never fall rapidlyC. Some patients tolerate apnoea poorlyD. It replaces airway equipment

Question 03. What should an airway briefing include? A. Only the tube sizeB. Only the operation durationC. No failure strategyD. Primary and backup plans with available help

Question 04. Who should decide on an anticipated difficult-airway technique? A. An appropriately experienced clinician with a patient-specific planB. An untrained observerC. The equipment supplier aloneD. A fixed rule for every patient

Question 05. Does failed intubation always mean oxygenation is impossible? A. YesB. Only after a second attemptC. Only if the patient is anaesthetisedD. No

Question 06. Why avoid repeated ineffective airway attempts? A. Every attempt guarantees improvementB. They eliminate the need for helpC. They are harmless if quickD. They can worsen trauma, swelling and hypoxia

Question 07. What confirms and monitors tracheal ventilation? A. Appropriate waveform capnography with clinical checksB. Tube mist aloneC. The operator’s confidence aloneD. Pulse rate alone

Question 08. Why reassess an airway after repositioning? A. Position can never affect itB. The device may displace or ventilation may changeC. The original check is permanent proofD. Only the dressing needs review

Question 09. What should be included in extubation planning? A. Only completion of surgeryB. Only removal of monitoringC. Recovery, swelling risk and a rescue strategyD. No consideration of residual blockade

Question 10. Why document and communicate airway difficulty afterward? A. It informs future anaesthetic careB. It replaces current monitoringC. It proves all future airways will failD. It is only an administrative detail

0 / 10 answeredReady for assessment →

References & Further Reading

Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.

Reference review: 29 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.