Sellick's maneuver is performed to minimize aspiration risk during intubation.

Sellick's maneuver is performed to minimize aspiration risk during intubation.

• A. Minimize aspiration risk during intubation
• B. Clear foreign airway obstruction in an infant or child
• C. Position the head and neck for optimal glottic visualization during intubation
• D. Assist intubation via guide wire through cricothyroid membrane

Answer: (D)

Sellick's maneuver uses firm backward pressure on the cricoid cartilage to compress the esophagus against the spine, with the aim of preventing regurgitation of gastric contents into the pharynx during induction and intubation. By occluding the esophagus, it lowers the risk of aspiration when airway reflexes are reduced and a protected airway is being secured. This is why the maneuver is described as a technique to minimize aspiration risk during intubation, especially in patients with full stomachs or when rapid sequence induction is used. It’s not a method for clearing a foreign airway obstruction, nor is it a positioning maneuver to optimize glottic visualization, and it’s not related to placing a guidewire for a cricothyrotomy.

Sellick's maneuver uses firm backward pressure on the cricoid cartilage to compress the esophagus against the spine, with the aim of preventing regurgitation of gastric contents into the pharynx during induction and intubation. By occluding the esophagus, it lowers the risk of aspiration when airway reflexes are reduced and a protected airway is being secured. This is why the maneuver is described as a technique to minimize aspiration risk during intubation, especially in patients with full stomachs or when rapid sequence induction is used. It’s not a method for clearing a foreign airway obstruction, nor is it a positioning maneuver to optimize glottic visualization, and it’s not related to placing a guidewire for a cricothyrotomy.