To avoid the risk of aspiration after a fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedure, what would you rec-ommend that the patient do?

a. Be placed in the supine Trendelenburg po-sition for 2 hr.
b. Remain in a sitting position and NPO until sensation returns.
c. Receive additional aerosolized lidocaine by nebulizer.
d. Be continuously monitored for oxygena-tion through pulse oximetry.

ANS: B
The risk of aspiration persists as long as the airway is anesthetized. Therefore, patients should remain in a sitting position and refrain from eating or drinking until sensation returns.