For maintaining the airway in pediatric patients, what position is recommended?

• A. Prone
• B. Supine with slight padding behind shoulders
• C. Fowler's position
• D. Lateral decubitus

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a clear pediatric airway relies on positioning that keeps the head and neck aligned so the airway axes run in a straight line and the tongue and soft tissues don’t block the airway. In young patients, the head is relatively large, so lying flat can cause the head to fall back and occlude the airway. Placing a small pad under the shoulders helps achieve a neutral or slightly extended sniffing-like position, which opens the airway and makes bag-valve-mask ventilation and suctioning easier and more effective. Other positions don’t optimize airway alignment: prone can obstruct the airway and hinder ventilation, lateral decubitus is not ideal for quick airway access or ventilation in an emergency, and Fowler’s position, while sometimes used for comfort or certain breathing issues, does not provide as reliable an airway alignment for active airway maintenance as the supine position with slight shoulder padding.