Field Internship Student Data Acquisition Project. (FISDAP) Airway Practice Exam

What is the appropriate action if vomit is found after opening a patient's airway?

1. Leave the vomit in place

2. Suction the airway

3. Insert an airway adjunct

4. Begin artificial ventilation

The correct answer is: Suction the airway

When establishing a patient’s airway, discovering vomit presents an immediate risk of airway obstruction and aspiration, which can lead to serious respiratory complications. The appropriate action is to suction the airway to ensure that the airway is clear and to reduce the risk of aspiration. Suctioning helps to effectively remove any fluids, such as vomit, that could obstruct airflow or lead to the patient inhaling foreign material during respiration. This action is crucial in maintaining a patent airway and facilitating adequate ventilation. While airway adjuncts and artificial ventilation are important components of airway management, they are only appropriate after ensuring that the airway is clear. Leaving vomit in place would not only compromise the airway but also pose a significant risk to the patient's safety and oxygenation. Therefore, suctioning is the critical first step in managing the airway in this scenario.