Which article is shown in the given image?

DSSSB 12 August 2024

Medical Surgical Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

The image shows a Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA), which is a type of supraglottic airway device used for ventilation.
It is clearly identified by its characteristic large, elliptical, inflatable cuff (mask) which is designed to form a seal around the laryngeal inlet, not enter the trachea.
The device also features an airway tube for gas delivery and an inflation line with a pilot balloon to manage cuff pressure.

Option A: A Guedel airway (oropharyngeal airway) is a rigid, curved plastic device without an inflatable cuff. Its purpose is to hold the tongue away from the posterior pharyngeal wall.
Option C: AMBU is a brand name, most famously associated with the bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. It is not the generic or standard name for the specific airway device shown.
Option D: An endotracheal tube (ETT) is designed to be inserted through the vocal cords into the trachea. It has a small, cylindrical, high-pressure cuff at its distal tip, which looks very different from the large, mask-like cuff of the LMA.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of airway management devices as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to rapidly and accurately identify different airway devices to assist in emergencies, prepare for procedures (like surgery), and ensure the correct equipment is available for physicians and anesthetists.
The LMA is a crucial rescue device in 'can't intubate, can't ventilate' scenarios. Recognizing it is vital for patient safety in emergency airway management.
What if? If the patient required long-term mechanical ventilation or had a high risk of aspiration, an LMA would be less suitable. In that case, an endotracheal tube would be the preferred definitive airway for better protection and ventilation control.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully observe the key features of the device in the image. Note the presence of a tube, an inflatable cuff, and the specific shape and size of the cuff.
Identify the most distinguishing feature: the device has a large, oval, mask-like cuff at its end.
Consider the function implied by this shape. A large mask is designed to cover an area (the laryngeal opening) rather than seal a narrow tube (the trachea). This points towards a supraglottic (above the glottis) placement.
Systematically evaluate the given options based on your observation. A Guedel airway has no cuff. An endotracheal tube has a small, cylindrical cuff. 'AMBU airway' is not a standard device category.
The features seen in the image perfectly match the description of a Laryngeal Mask Airway.
Therefore, conclude that 'Laryngeal mask' is the correct identification.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 3 p. 115-117