Airway Adjunct
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Airway adjuncts are medical tools used to maintain a patent (open) airway in a conscious or unconscious patient. Adjuncts are separated into basic airway adjuncts and advanced airway adjuncts.[1]
Basic Airway Adjuncts
Oropharyngeal airway adjuncts (OPA) are curved hard plastic adjuncts that are inserted with the curve facing towards the tongue. They are then flipped by the operator so that the curve is against the roof of the patients mouth.[2] This maneuver forces the jaw open and assists in keeping the upper airway open.
Nasopharyngeal airway adjuncts (NPA) are soft rubber tubes with a coned end and a tapered end. In certain prehospital settings the adjunct is measured from the nose to the earlobe and is then lubricated and inserted tapered end first into the nose of the patient.[3] the NPA is used in instances where the integrity of the roof of the mouth is compromised, with infants or if the patient has an intact gag reflex.[4]
Advanced Airway Adjuncts
- Endotracheal tube(ET) is an advanced adjunct that is inserted through the nose or mouth. It is thought to be the most difficult adjunct to install but it is also the most secure adjunct available in the prehospital setting. ET tubes work by being inserted into the trachea, where the operator then inflates a small balloon which keeps the trachea patent. This device can be connected to pressurized supplemental oxygen.[5][6]
- Laryngeal mask airway(LM)[6]
- Laryngeal tube(LT)[6]
- Esophageal-tracheal tube[6]
Citations
- ↑ Say, Sam D. "Basic vs. Advanced Airway Management". blog.sscor.com. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Staffs Paramedics (2017-01-06). Oropharyngeal Airway Insertion. Retrieved 2026-09-29 – via YouTube.
- ↑ WCTCFire&EMS (2013-07-30). EMS Skills - Nasopharyngeal Airway Insertion. Retrieved 2026-09-29 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "American Heart Association Journals". American Heart Association Journals. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.105.166556. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Cleveland Clinic. "Intubation".
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "ACLS Advanced Airway Adjuncts Guide | AMC". Advanced Medical Certification. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
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