critical care medicine
How To Insert an Oropharyngeal Airway
Step by Step Description of Oropharyngeal Airway Procedure
As necessary, clear the oropharynx of obstructing secretions, vomitus, or foreign material. Determine the appropriate size of the oropharyngeal airway. Hold the airway beside the patient’s cheek with the flange at the corner of the mouth. The tip of an appropriately sized airway should just reach the angle of the mandibular ramus. Next, begin inserting the airway into the mouth with the tip pointed to the roof of the mouth (ie, concave up). To avoid cutting the lips, be careful not to pinch the lips between the teeth and the airway as you insert the airway. Rotate the airway 180 degrees as you advance it into the posterior oropharynx. This technique prevents the airway from pushing the tongue backward during insertion and further obstructing the airway. When fully inserted, the flange of the device should rest at the patient’s lips. Alternatively, use a tongue blade to depress the tongue as you insert the airway with the tip pointed to the floor of the mouth (ie, concave down). Use of the tongue blade prevents the airway from pushing the tongue backward during insertion. 