Airway: smoke inhalation: practice question

A ENT 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.

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ENT · Airway: smoke inhalation

Sample item

A man rescued from a house fire has singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum and a hoarse voice. What is the immediate priority?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Early endotracheal intubation before oedema develops

Hoarseness, stridor, soot in the mouth and facial burns suggest thermal injury to the upper airway that may progress to rapid oedema and obstruction. Early intubation is safer than waiting. High-flow oxygen is given for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Option by option

  • A. Early endotracheal intubation before oedema develops (correct)

    Correct. Secure the airway early.

  • B. Chest physiotherapy

    Physiotherapy does not secure the airway.

  • C. Wait for the oedema to settle

    Delay risks complete obstruction.

  • D. Oral steroids and discharge

    Steroids do not prevent obstruction and discharge is unsafe.

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.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Early endotracheal intubation before oedema develops. Hoarseness, stridor, soot in the mouth and facial burns suggest thermal injury to the upper airway that may progress to rapid oedema and obstruction.

Why is "Chest physiotherapy" not the answer?

Physiotherapy does not secure the airway.

Why is "Wait for the oedema to settle" not the answer?

Delay risks complete obstruction.

Why is "Oral steroids and discharge" not the answer?

Steroids do not prevent obstruction and discharge is unsafe.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway: smoke inhalation in ENT. Early intubation is safer than waiting. High-flow oxygen is given for carbon monoxide poisoning.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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: smoke inhalation?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.