Regarding tongue obstruction, which statement is correct?

Regarding tongue obstruction, which statement is correct?

• A. There is tongue obstruction
• B. There is no mouth edema
• C. There is no tongue obstruction
• D. The tongue obstruction status is not documented

Answer: (C)

In airway assessment, you identify and clearly document whether the tongue is obstructing the airway. If you observe that the tongue is not causing obstruction, you record that there is no tongue obstruction. This communicates to the team that the airway isn’t being impeded by the tongue, guiding you away from unnecessary maneuvers aimed at tongue-related blockage. Stating there is tongue obstruction would only be correct if obstruction was actually observed. Saying there is no mouth edema shifts focus to another finding and doesn’t address tongue status. Claiming the tongue obstruction status is not documented goes against proper documentation practice, since airway findings should be clearly recorded.

In airway assessment, you identify and clearly document whether the tongue is obstructing the airway. If you observe that the tongue is not causing obstruction, you record that there is no tongue obstruction. This communicates to the team that the airway isn’t being impeded by the tongue, guiding you away from unnecessary maneuvers aimed at tongue-related blockage.

Stating there is tongue obstruction would only be correct if obstruction was actually observed. Saying there is no mouth edema shifts focus to another finding and doesn’t address tongue status. Claiming the tongue obstruction status is not documented goes against proper documentation practice, since airway findings should be clearly recorded.