4. Purpose : To lift the tongue and epiglottis
from the posterior pharyngeal wall and
prevent them from obstructing the space
above the larynx
Decrease the work of breathing during
spontaneous breathing when using a face
mask
5. Description:
Made up of elastomeric material, metal
or plastic
Parts :
Flange : at the buccal end / prevents it
from moving deeper in to the mouth
cavity/ helps to fix the airway
Bite portion: short and firm portion , fits
between the teeth and prevent
occlusion of the airway
Curved air channel : corresponds with
the shape of the tongue and the palate
Size: Determined by a number that is
the length in centimeters (American
national standard)
6. Uses
Helps to maintain an open
airway in an unconscious
person
Prevents patient from biting an
endotracheal tube
Protect the tongue from biting
Facilitate oropharyngeal
suctioning
Provides a pathway for
inserting devices into the
esophagus and pharynx.
Contraindications
Intact gag reflex
Presence of a foreign body
Active bleeding nose
Complication
Chances of vomiting
Inadequate small size -
worsen obstruction by kinking
the tongue and push it against
the roof of the mouth
Too big size can cause
epicglottis posteriorly and
traumatize the larynx
Damage to oral structure and
dentition
7. Technique of insertion
The pharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes should
be depressed
Correct size estimated by holding the airway
next to the patient’s mouth.
Lubricate the airway with water base jelly if
possible
Jaw is opened with the left hand by ‘ crossed
or scissors ‘ technique
The airway is inserted with the concave side
facing the upper lip
When the junction of the bite portion and the
curved portion is near the incisors, the airway
is rotated 180º and slipped behind the tongue
into the final position
8.
9. Water airway
Developed by Ralph M Waters
Made of metal
Oval flange, straight bite block and
anatomically curved pharyngeal
portion
Holes at the distal end
Not used recently due to higher
chances of damage to teeth and soft
tissue and inability to see any foreign
material lodged inside it
10. Guedel airway
Single use
Integrated bite block : coloured
coded according to size
Smooth bevelled tip for easy
insertion to minimize the trauma
during insertion
Available in 9 sizes depending o the
distance between the corner of the
mouth and the angle of the jaw
000, 00, 0, 1 to 6 with length from 40
to 120 mm
11. Berman airway (Dr Robert Berman)
Has a centre support and open side
channels along each side that allow a
suction catheter or ETT to slide into the
pharyngeal place
Better visibility and prevents unseen
occlusion
Willliams airway intubator (Tudor William
airway)
Proximal half is cylindrical – maintain tube
in midline
Distal half is open on the lingual side -
manoeuvrability
Designed for blind orotracheal intubation/
fiberoptic intubation
12. Patil Syracuse endoscopic airway
Made from aluminium
(reusable)
Designed to aid fiberoptic
intubation
Central groove on the
lingual surface to allow
the fiberscope with a
tracheal tube to pass
Lateral channel offer
provision of suctioning
Slit at the distal end
allows the fiberscope to
be manipulated in the AP
direction
13. Ovassapian fiberoptic intubating
airway
Designed to deliver a
fiberscope as close as
possible to the larynx
At the buccal end are two
vertical sidewalls and
between them are a pair of
guide walls that curve
towards each other
Proximal end is tubular- act
as bite block/ distal end is
flat
14.
15. Nasopharyngeal airway
Resembles a shortened tracheal
tube with a flange at the outer
end to prevent it from
completely passing into the
nares
When fully inserted the
pharyngeal end remain above
the epiglottis but below the
base of the tongue
16. Uses
Uses during and after pharyngeal surgery
To apply continuous positive airway pressure
To facilitate suctioning and as a guide for nasogastric tube
As a guide for a fiberoptic and maintaining ventilation during fiberoptic
endoscopy
To dilate the nasal passages in preparation for nasotracheal intubation
Used in dental surgery
Can be fitted with a tracheal tube connector and used with an anesthesia
breathing system
17. Insertion technique
Diameter of the nasal airway should be the same
as needed for a tracheal tube (0.5 to 1 mm smaller
than for an oral tracheal tube)
Lubricated thoroughly along its entire length
Inspect each nostril for size, patency and presence
of polyps
Use vasoconstrictor drops before insertion
Airway is held with the bevel against the septum
and gently advanced posteriorly while being
rotated back and forth.
If resistance is encountered during insertion, the
other nostril should be used or smaller size should
be used
NPA should be inserted perpendicularly in line
with the nasal passage
18.
19. Linder nasopharyngeal airway
Made of plastic with a large flange
Distal end lacks bevel
Supplied with an introducer which has a
balloon on its tip that can be inflated or
deflated by attaching a syringe to the
one-way valve attached at its end (air of
4-5 ml introduced while inserting to the
approximate dimensions of the outside
diameter of the tube)
20. Cuffed nasopharyngeal tube
Similar to a short cuffed tracheal tube
Inserted into the pharynx through the nose and the cuff is inflated and
pulled back unless resistance is felt
21. Binasal airway
Consists of two nasal airways joined
together by an adaptor for
attachment to the breathing system
Used to administer anesthesia or to
provide CPAP to babies
22. Contraindications of nasopharyngeal
airway
Basilar skull fracture/ facial trauma / disruption of midface, nasopharynx or
roof of the mouth
Pathology or deformity of the nose
Bleeding disorder or patients taking anticoagulants – high risk of bleeding
Recent nasal surgery
23. Complications
Airway obstruction
Trauma – nose , posterior pharynx
Central nervous system trauma – nasal airway in basilar skull fracture can
enter the anterior cranial fossa
Tissue oedema
Ulceration and necrosis
Retention, aspiration, swallowing
Latex allergy
Gastric distention
Equipment failure
24. Advantages over oropharyngeal airway
Better tolerated than an oropharyngeal airway
Preferable if the patient’s teeth are loose or there is trauma or pathology
of the oral cavity
Used when the mouth cannot be opened for introducing an oral airway
Editor's Notes
Rigid posterior wall supported by cervical vertebrae, a collapsible anterior wall consisting of tongue and epiglottis
Under anesthesia, muscles supporting the floor of the mouth and pharynx supporting the tongue relax causing airway obstruction
Berman’s airway – 4 sizes
Vasoconstrictors – oxymetazoline 0.05%, phenylephrine 0.5%, aerosolized 2% to 4%