Airway obstruction in trauma — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: D — Open the airway with jaw thrust and suction while maintaining manual stabilisation

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as C · A = shown as D · C = shown as E

A is correct: The immediate priority is to clear and open the airway using trauma-safe manoeuvres while avoiding avoidable cervical movement. B is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; C is less suitable because it creates avoidable delay in a time-critical presentation; D is less suitable because it delays the immediate life-saving step in the cABCDE sequence; E is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Major Trauma NG39; ATACC