4d: Airway Management (2021) OLD

Airway Management is the focus of this lesson. A brief introduction is provided for basic and advanced airway equipment. The necessity of advanced equipment is determined by the care provider and whether bag-mask ventilation is adequate. The similarities and differences between the types of airway equipment are also discussed.

"If bag-mask ventilation is adequate, as a provider, you may defer insertion of an advanced airway. You should make the decision as to the appropriateness of placing an advanced airway during the ACLS Survey. The value of securing the airway must be balanced against the need to minimize the interruption in perfusion that results in halting CPR during airway placement.

Basic airway equipment includes the oropharyngeal airway (or OPA) and the nasopharyngeal airway (or NPA). The primary difference between an OPA and an NPA is that an OPA is placed in the mouth while an NPA is inserted through the nose.

Both airway equipment terminate in the pharynx. The main advantage of an NPA over an OPA is that it can be used in either conscious or unconscious individuals because the device does not stimulate the gag reflex.

Advanced airway equipment includes the laryngeal mask airway, laryngeal tube, esophageal-tracheal tube, and endotracheal tube. Different styles of these supraglottic airways are available. If it is within your scope of practice, you may use advanced airway equipment when appropriate and available."

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