Airway skills
Deteriorating patient
Investigations
100
This basic airway adjunct is inserted through the mouth to prevent the tongue obstructing the airway
What is an oropharyngeal airway (OPA)?
100
This structured approach is used to assess a deteriorating patient on the ward
What is an ABCDE assessment (primary survey)?
100
The rhythm shown here
What is normal sinus rhythm?
200
This minimally invasive airway device is used to deliver oxygen during surgery without passing through the larynx
What is an LMA (laryngeal mask airway)?
200
A postoperative patient has not passed urine for eight hours. This bedside investigation helps distinguish urinary retention from reduced urine production
What is a bladder scan?
200
The fracture shown here
What is distal radius fracture (colles fracture)?
300
This is the ETT size for a standard adult male patient
What is size 8?
300
A patient on the ward becomes drowsy and hypoxic, with slow breathing and pinpoint pupils. This is the likely cause.
What is iatrogenic opioid overdose?
300
A blood gas shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 60 mmHg and HCO₃⁻ 26 mmol/L. This is the primary acid–base disturbance
What is respiratory acidosis?
400
This classification score evaluated via mouth opening is directly correlated with a patient's laryngoscopic view
What is mallampati score?
400
Diagnosis - Shortly after central venous catheter insertion, a patient develops sudden dyspnoea, hypotension
What is a tension pneumothorax?
400
An ABG shows pH 7.36, PaCO₂ 60 mmHg and HCO₃⁻ 33 mmol/L. Is this compensated or uncompensated?
Compensated
500
This mnemonic is used to quickly evaluate an airway
What is LEMON? (Look, Evaluate (322 rule), Mallampati, Obstruction, Neck mobility)
500
Diagnosis - A postoperative patient develops vomiting, abdominal pain and hypotension that persists despite IV fluids. Their regular prednisolone was omitted on admission.
What is adrenal crisis (addisonian crisis)?
500
A patient has Na⁺ 128, K⁺ 6.6, Mg²⁺ 0.5, phosphate 0.6 and corrected Ca²⁺ 2.2 mmol/L. This electrolyte disturbance requires the most urgent treatment.
What is potassium?