Airway management: cricoid pressure: 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.

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Anaesthesia · Airway management: cricoid pressure

Sample item

What force is applied to the cricoid cartilage in an awake patient and after loss of consciousness during rapid sequence induction?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. 10 N, increased to 30 N

Cricoid pressure (Sellick manoeuvre) is started at 10 N while awake and raised to 30 N once consciousness is lost. Higher pressure in an awake patient causes pain and retching, and excessive force can obstruct the airway.

Option by option

  • A. 10 N, increased to 30 N (correct)

    Correct. 10 N awake and 30 N once unconscious.

  • B. 30 N, reduced to 10 N

    The force is not reduced after induction.

  • C. 50 N throughout

    50 N is excessive and may distort the airway.

  • D. 5 N throughout

    5 N is too little to occlude the oesophagus.

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.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, 10 N, increased to 30 N. Cricoid pressure (Sellick manoeuvre) is started at 10 N while awake and raised to 30 N once consciousness is lost.

Why is "30 N, reduced to 10 N" not the answer?

The force is not reduced after induction.

Why is "50 N throughout" not the answer?

50 N is excessive and may distort the airway.

Why is "5 N throughout" not the answer?

5 N is too little to occlude the oesophagus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: cricoid pressure in Anaesthesia. Higher pressure in an awake patient causes pain and retching, and excessive force can obstruct the airway.

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 management: cricoid pressure?

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.