Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) Practice Exam

Why should sedation be administered during airway management?

1. To decrease the patient's heart rate

2. To induce amnesia

3. To paralyze the patient

4. To relieve pain during laryngoscopy

The correct answer is: To induce amnesia

Sedation plays a crucial role in airway management, particularly for creating a comfortable and cooperative environment for the patient. Inducing amnesia helps reduce the patient's recollection of the distressing experience associated with airway manipulation, such as intubation or laryngoscopy. This is beneficial not only for the immediate procedure but also for the patient's overall psychological well-being, as traumatic memories can be avoided or minimized. While sedation does have several effects, including possible alterations in heart rate, muscle relaxation, and pain relief, its primary purpose during airway management is to create a state where the patient's anxiety and awareness of the procedure are significantly reduced. This allows for smoother execution of the airway intervention, as the patient is less likely to resist or react adversely, thereby enhancing the safety and effectiveness of the management approach.