Question

When opening the airway of a patient with a suspected spinal injury, you should use the:

A head tilt-chin lift maneuver
B. tongue-jaw lift maneuver.
C. jaw-thrust maneuver.
D. head tilt-neck lift maneuver.

Answer 1

The correct method for opening the airway of a patient with a suspected spinal injury is the jaw-thrust maneuver, which minimizes cervical spine movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

When opening the airway of a patient with a suspected spinal injury, the recommended maneuver to use is the jaw-thrust maneuver. This technique is designed to minimize movement of the cervical spine and is preferable in cases where a neck or spinal injury is suspected. Unlike the head tilt-chin lift maneuver, which could potentially exacerbate a spinal injury by moving the neck, the jaw-thrust technique is performed by placing fingers behind the angle of the patient's lower jaw and lifting with both hands, displacing the jaw forward. This helps to open the airway without tilting or rotating the head. Additionally, it's critical to avoid unnecessary movement of the patient's head or neck, as this could worsen a spinal injury.