Which sign indicates laryngospasm?

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Multiple Choice

Which sign indicates laryngospasm?

Laryngospasm presents as an acute upper airway obstruction caused by closure of the vocal cords, leading to a high-pitched noise (stridor) and compromised ventilation. The combination of stridor with a drop in oxygen saturation is the most specific sign because it shows both airway narrowing at the glottic level and resulting hypoventilation. Coughing is less reliable in this context since the vocal cords are closed, preventing the air movement that triggers a cough. Fever points to infection rather than airway closure, and tachycardia is nonspecific and can accompany many distressing states. So the presence of stridor together with a decreasing O2 saturation most clearly indicates laryngospasm.

Laryngospasm presents as an acute upper airway obstruction caused by closure of the vocal cords, leading to a high-pitched noise (stridor) and compromised ventilation. The combination of stridor with a drop in oxygen saturation is the most specific sign because it shows both airway narrowing at the glottic level and resulting hypoventilation. Coughing is less reliable in this context since the vocal cords are closed, preventing the air movement that triggers a cough. Fever points to infection rather than airway closure, and tachycardia is nonspecific and can accompany many distressing states. So the presence of stridor together with a decreasing O2 saturation most clearly indicates laryngospasm.

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