A patient under intravenous sedation begins to show partial airway obstruction with snoring respirations. What is the FIRST maneuver to perform?

Correct answer: A. Head-tilt/chin-lift to open the airway

• A. Correct. Snoring/stertorous respiration in a sedated patient means the tongue has fallen back against the posterior pharyngeal wall. The immediate corrective step is a basic airway maneuver — HEAD-TILT/CHIN-LIFT (or jaw thrust) — which lifts the tongue off the pharyngeal wall. Airway always comes first (A of ABC), before drugs.
• B. Suction is appropriate if secretions or vomitus are the obstruction. Snoring specifically indicates soft-tissue/tongue obstruction, corrected by repositioning.
• C. Chest compressions are for a pulseless patient. This patient is breathing — obstructed, but breathing.
• D. Reversal agents (flumazenil, naloxone) may be indicated if the patient is over-sedated, but they take time to act; positioning the airway is immediate and is done first.