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Oropharyngeal airway
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Airway adjunct used to open oropharynx and increase effectiveness of BVM ventilation
Indications
- Unresponsive patients without gag reflex
- Apneic patient being ventilated with BVM
Contraindications
- Conscious patients
- Intact gag reflex
Procedure
Application
- Size OPA from earlobe to mouth
- Open patients mouth and insert OPA with the tip towards the roof of the mouth
- Rotate airway 180° and insert until it is fully inserted
Removal
- Pull out the OPA
See also
References
Authors
Peter Coti, Michael O'Brien, MD, Michael Holtz, Ross Donaldson
