This document discusses oropharyngeal airways, which are curved plastic devices inserted into the mouth to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. They are indicated for unconscious patients without a gag reflex. The proper size is selected by measuring from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw. The airway should be inserted upside down and rotated sideways as it passes the tongue, then positioned with the flange at the teeth to maintain the airway. Failure to manage the airway properly can lead to preventable death, so early detection, rapid intervention and continual reassessment of the airway are important.

1. Oropharyngeal Airway
Placement
Adam A. Divine, EMT-P, PI-Candidate

2. Oropharyngeal Airways
• Objectives

3. Oropharyngeal Airways
• Oropharyngeal airway (OP)
– Curved, Hard Plastic device that is designed to
go over the back of the tongue
– Prevents tongue from occluding airway
– Range in Size from 00 to 6
– Aids in Airway Suctioning

4. Oropharyngeal Airway
• There are several different styles of OP
Airways but all of them serve the same
general purpose.

5. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Indications
– OP Airways are indicated in unconscious
patients without a gag reflex
– An Oral Airway will prevent the tongue, which
is the most common airway obstruction, from
blocking the airway when properly inserted.

6. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Contraindications
– OP Airways should NOT be used in
responsive patients
– Or in patients with a Gag Reflex.

7. Oropharyngeal Airway

8. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Selecting the Proper Size
– Measure from the corner of the patient’s mouth
to the angle of the jaw.

9. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Insertion procedure
– Airway should be upside down as it is inserted
into mouth.

10. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Insertion procedure
– Rotate sideways as airway passes over tongue

11. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Insertion procedure
– Place in correct position once past the tongue with
the flange flush with the teeth.

12. Oropharyngeal Airway

13. Oropharyngeal Airway

14. Oropharyngeal Airway
“Failure to Manage the airway is a major cause
of preventable death in the Prehospital setting.
– Understand the importance of:
• Early Detection of Airway Problems
• Rapid and Effective Intervention
• Continual reassessment.”

15. Oropharyngeal Airways
• Summary

16. Oropharyngeal Airway
• Footnotes
– “Airway Adjuncts, Bag Mask Ventilation, and Laryngeal Mask
Airways” Matthew Musick, Fellows Boot Camp 2013 ppt
– http://www.slideshare.net/webservtech1/power-point-airway-
management
– “Unlocking Airway Management Skills…” Kansas BEMS EMS
Education Task Force August 2002
– “Airway, Airway – Who’s got the Airway?” Issues and Techniques
in EMS Airway Management by Silver Cross EMS System, January
2012
– “Airway Management and Ventilation” Chapter 15, Jones & Bartlett
Learning LLC, Copyright 2013 www.jblearning.com