Laryngology: 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 · Laryngology

Sample item

A woman has stridor after total thyroidectomy. Laryngoscopy shows both vocal cords fixed near the midline with a very narrow glottic chink. What is the most appropriate immediate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Secure the airway, by intubation or tracheostomy

Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy leaves the cords in the paramedian position, so the airway is compromised though the voice is good. The immediate priority is airway protection, and later options include cordotomy, arytenoidectomy or reinnervation once recovery has been given time.

Option by option

  • A. Inject both cords with a filler material

    Injection laryngoplasty medialises a cord for voice and would further narrow the airway.

  • B. Start speech therapy

    Speech therapy treats the voice and does not relieve airway obstruction.

  • C. Secure the airway, by intubation or tracheostomy (correct)

    Correct. The glottic chink is too narrow, and the airway comes first.

  • D. Reassure and review after six weeks

    Waiting is unsafe because the patient has stridor now.

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 C, Secure the airway, by intubation or tracheostomy. Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy leaves the cords in the paramedian position, so the airway is compromised though the voice is good.

Why is "Inject both cords with a filler material" not the answer?

Injection laryngoplasty medialises a cord for voice and would further narrow the airway.

Why is "Start speech therapy" not the answer?

Speech therapy treats the voice and does not relieve airway obstruction.

Why is "Reassure and review after six weeks" not the answer?

Waiting is unsafe because the patient has stridor now.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Laryngology in ENT. The immediate priority is airway protection, and later options include cordotomy, arytenoidectomy or reinnervation once recovery has been given time.

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 Laryngology?

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.