Airway equipment: armoured tracheal tube: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Airway equipment: armoured tracheal tube

Sample item

Which statement about a reinforced (armoured) tracheal tube is correct?

AIt has no cuffBIt cannot kink under any circumstances and can never be occludedCIt resists kinking, but it cannot be shortened and a bite can cause permanent occlusionDIt is easily cut to length

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. It resists kinking, but it cannot be shortened and a bite can cause permanent occlusion

The spiral wire or nylon reinforcement prevents kinking during head and neck surgery or prone positioning. The tube cannot be cut because of the wire, and a patient's bite can flatten it permanently and cause obstruction. A bite block is therefore used.

Option by option

A. It has no cuff
Reinforced tubes are cuffed in the same way as standard tubes.
B. It cannot kink under any circumstances and can never be occluded
It can still be occluded by a bite or by cuff herniation.
C. It resists kinking, but it cannot be shortened and a bite can cause permanent occlusion (correct)
Correct. Kink resistance comes with a risk of permanent obstruction if bitten.
D. It is easily cut to length
The wire prevents it from being cut easily.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, It resists kinking, but it cannot be shortened and a bite can cause permanent occlusion. The spiral wire or nylon reinforcement prevents kinking during head and neck surgery or prone positioning.

Why is "It has no cuff" not the answer?

Reinforced tubes are cuffed in the same way as standard tubes.

Why is "It cannot kink under any circumstances and can never be occluded" not the answer?

It can still be occluded by a bite or by cuff herniation.

Why is "It is easily cut to length" not the answer?

The wire prevents it from being cut easily.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway equipment: armoured tracheal tube in Anaesthesia. The tube cannot be cut because of the wire, and a patient's bite can flatten it permanently and cause obstruction. A bite block is therefore used.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Airway equipment: armoured tracheal tube?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.