Emergency Medicine · Paramedic

Paramedic Core Concepts

Advanced airway, cardiac rhythm recognition, and medication administration concepts tested on paramedic certification exams.

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What is the primary purpose of cricoid pressure (the Sellick maneuver) during intubation?
To occlude the esophagus and reduce the risk of aspiration or regurgitation
What is the gold standard method for confirming endotracheal tube placement?
Waveform capnography
Normal end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) in a healthy adult is approximately ____ mmHg.
35-45
What does a sudden loss of the capnography waveform after intubation most likely indicate?
Tube dislodgement, esophageal intubation, or loss of circulation
What type of airway device is inserted blindly above the vocal cords without direct visualization?
A supraglottic airway (e.g. King LT, i-gel, LMA)
What does RSI stand for in airway management?
Rapid Sequence Intubation
What is the purpose of a bougie during intubation?
To act as a guide or introducer for the ET tube when the glottic opening is hard to see
The LEMON mnemonic is used to predict ____ risk before intubation.
difficult airway
Which induction agent is commonly used in RSI because it causes minimal cardiovascular disturbance?
Etomidate
Which RSI paralytic is contraindicated in patients with hyperkalemia or crush injury?
Succinylcholine
What anatomical landmark is used to perform a surgical cricothyrotomy?
The cricothyroid membrane
What is the BURP maneuver used for during intubation?
Backward, Upward, Rightward Pressure on the larynx to improve the view of the glottis
Which laryngoscope blade is inserted into the vallecula rather than lifting the epiglottis directly?
The curved (Macintosh) blade
Why is preoxygenation performed before attempting intubation?
To extend the safe apnea time and delay the onset of hypoxia
What is a key contraindication to nasotracheal intubation?
Suspected facial or basilar skull fracture

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