You are assessing a young woman who was struck in the head with a baseball bat. The patient is semiconscious and has slow, irregular respirations. Further assessment reveals CSF drainage from her nose and periorbital ecchymosis. She has blood in her mouth, but clenches her teeth and becomes combative when you attempt to suction her oropharynx. The MOST appropriate airway management for this patient involves:

A) sedating her with a benzodiazepine, chemically paralyzing her with a neuromuscular blocker, and intubating her trachea.
B) suctioning along the inside of her cheek with a whistle-tip catheter and then performing blind nasotracheal intubation.
C) opening her mouth with a dental prod, suctioning her oropharynx for 15 seconds, and intubating her trachea via direct laryngoscopy.
D) inserting a nasopharyngeal airway, administering supplemental oxygen via nonrebreathing mask, and continuing suction attempts.

Answer: A) sedating her with a benzodiazepine, chemically paralyzing her with a neuromuscular blocker, and intubating her trachea.