Question

You are intubating a 26-year-old who is apneic. Once the endotracheal tube passes through the vocal cords, how much farther should the endotracheal tube be advanced before inflating the cuff and confirming proper placement?

A. 0.5 to 1 inch

B. Less than 1 cm

C. 2 to 3 cm

D. 1 to 2.5 inches

Answer 1

For a correct endotracheal intubation, the endotracheal tube should be advanced 2 to 3 cm past the vocal cords before cuff inflation and placement confirmation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When intubating a 26-year-old who is apneic, once the endotracheal tube passes through the vocal cords, it should be advanced 2 to 3 cm further before inflating the cuff and confirming proper placement. This distance ensures that the tube is correctly positioned within the trachea, but not so far as to risk intubation of the right main bronchus, which is longer and less angled than the left, which could result in ventilation of only one lung. The endotracheal intubation technique is critical for maintaining an open airway and proper ventilation in emergency and surgical settings.