Which action is part of maintaining an endotracheal tube airway?

• A. Suction the upper airway to clear secretions
• B. Move the patient every 15 minutes without assessment
• C. Administer IV antibiotics
• D. Check blood glucose

Answer: (A)

Maintaining an endotracheal tube airway centers on keeping the airway clear and patent to ensure effective ventilation. Suctioning the upper airway to clear secretions directly supports this by removing mucus and secretions that can occlude the tube or impair gas exchange. When secretions accumulate around or above the endotracheal tube, ventilation becomes more difficult and the risk of aspiration increases, so performing careful suctioning helps prevent obstruction and infection while preserving airway patency. This is done with sterile technique, appropriate suction pressure, and brief, preoxygenated passes to minimize hypoxemia.

The other actions don’t address maintaining the airway: moving the patient without assessment risks tube dislodgement or ventilation failure; IV antibiotics pertain to infection treatment rather than airway maintenance; and checking blood glucose is unrelated to keeping the airway clear.