Oropharyngeal airways (OPAs) are temporary artificial airway devices used to prevent tongue displacement and tracheal obstruction in clients who are sedated or unconscious. As consciousness and the ability to protect the airway return, the client often coughs or gags, indicating a need to remove the OPA; clients may also independently remove or expel it. Nurses caring for a client with an OPA must ensure that the device is easily removable from the client's mouth because an obstructed (eg, taped) OPA may cause choking and aspiration (Option 4).
(Option 1) Appropriate OPA size should be measured prior to insertion because an inappropriate size could push the tongue back and cause airway obstruction. The OPA should be measured with the flange next to the client's cheek. With correct sizing, the OPA curve reaches the jaw angle.
(Options 2 and 3) When inserting an OPA, the nurse should initially suction the upper airway to remove secretions. The OPA is then inserted with the distal end pointing upward toward the roof of the mouth to prevent tongue displacement and tracheal obstruction. Once the OPA reaches the soft palate, the nurse rotates the OPA tip downward toward the esophagus, which pushes the tongue forward and maintains airway patency.
Educational objective: An oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is a temporary artificial airway used to prevent tongue displacement and tracheal obstruction in clients who are sedated or unconscious. An OPA should never be taped in place because of the risk of choking and aspiration when the client awakens.
Oropharyngeal airways (OPAs) are temporary artificial airway devices used to prevent tongue displacement and tracheal obstruction in clients who are sedated or unconscious. As consciousness and the ability to protect the airway return, the client often coughs or gags, indicating a need to remove the OPA; clients may also independently remove or expel it. Nurses caring for a client with an OPA must ensure that the device is easily removable from the client's mouth because an obstructed (eg, taped) OPA may cause choking and aspiration (Option 4).
(Option 1) Appropriate OPA size should be measured prior to insertion because an inappropriate size could push the tongue back and cause airway obstruction. The OPA should be measured with the flange next to the client's cheek. With correct sizing, the OPA curve reaches the jaw angle.
(Options 2 and 3) When inserting an OPA, the nurse should initially suction the upper airway to remove secretions. The OPA is then inserted with the distal end pointing upward toward the roof of the mouth to prevent tongue displacement and tracheal obstruction. Once the OPA reaches the soft palate, the nurse rotates the OPA tip downward toward the esophagus, which pushes the tongue forward and maintains airway patency.
Educational objective: An oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is a temporary artificial airway used to prevent tongue displacement and tracheal obstruction in clients who are sedated or unconscious. An OPA should never be taped in place because of the risk of choking and aspiration when the client awakens.
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