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11/13/24, 7\:24 PM Guide | Nasopharyngeal airway insertion

Nasopharyngeal airway insertion

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Introduction

A nasopharyngeal airway is a hollow soft plastic tube with a bevel at one end and a
into the nasal passageway and sits in the posterior pharynx.
Nasopharyngeal airways are typically used to bypass obstructions in the mouth, nose, nasopharynx or base of the tongue.
They are typically better tolerated (and less likely to trigger the gag re
compared to oropharyngeal airways.
Nasopharyngeal airways should not be used in patients who may have sustained a skull base fracture, due to the small but
life-threatening risk of the NPA entering the cranial vault.
https\://app.geekymedics.com/osce-guides/clinical-procedures/nasopharyngeal-airway-insertion/ 1/311/13/24, 7\:24 PM Guide | Nasopharyngeal airway insertion
Nasopharyngeal airway device

Insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway

Sizing the airway

Nasopharyngeal airway sizes are described using their internal diameter in millimetres (usually the range of sizes is
approximately 2-9mm depending on the manufacturer).
The appropriate airway size can be determined by measuring from the tip of the patient’s nose to the tragus of the ear (i.e. soft
airway = measure 'soft to soft').
The average size of a nasopharyngeal airway is 6-7mm for a woman and 7-8mm for a man.

Inserting the airway

To insert a nasopharyngeal airway\:
1. Check the patency of the patient’s right nostril
2. Lubricate the airway.
3. Insert the airway bevel-end
4. If any obstruction is encountered, remove the airway and try the left nostril. The tip should sit just above the epiglottis, and
the
5. Maintain head-tilt chin-lift or jaw thrust and assess the patency of the patient’s airway by looking, listening and feeling for
signs of breathing.
https\://app.geekymedics.com/osce-guides/clinical-procedures/nasopharyngeal-airway-insertion/ 2/311/13/24, 7\:24 PM Guide | Nasopharyngeal airway insertion
Source\: geekymedics.com
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