Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Practice Exam

What defines a full stomach in the context of tracheal intubation?

1. Presence of gastric contents or recent food intake

2. Increased esophageal pressure

3. Decreased lower esophageal pressure

4. Absence of gastrointestinal motility

The correct answer is: Presence of gastric contents or recent food intake

A full stomach in the context of tracheal intubation refers to the presence of gastric contents or recent food intake. This is an important consideration in anesthesia practice because a full stomach increases the risk of aspiration during intubation. When a patient has not adequately fasted before undergoing anesthesia, there is a potential for stomach contents to regurgitate and enter the airway, leading to serious complications. Understanding the implications of a full stomach is critical for CRNAs, as it affects the management of airway and anesthetic techniques. Protocols may include preoperative fasting guidelines to mitigate this risk, highlighting the necessity for all healthcare providers involved in the perioperative care of patients to recognize signs of a full stomach. The other options may be relevant in other contexts related to gastrointestinal physiology or different aspects of patient health but do not define what constitutes a full stomach in the context of anesthesia and tracheal intubation. For instance, increases or decreases in esophageal pressure relate more to the function of the esophagus rather than the status of gastric contents. Similarly, the absence of gastrointestinal motility pertains to gut function but does not directly indicate fullness of the stomach.