Also referred to as the Guedel airway, the oropharyngeal airway tube may be a simple adjunct which bypasses the oropharynx and allows air (oxygen, sedating gas, etc) to bypass the tongue and upper pharynx. the utilization of this device is reserved for the incompletely conscious, as its insertion into the face of an alert person is typically greeted with violent confrontation. As such, one can usefully gauge the necessity for intubation by the degree to which this thing is tolerated (i.e. if it's well tolerated, then by definition the patient isn't protecting their airway).

An oropharyngeal airway (also referred to as a Guedel airway) is an airway adjunct wont to maintain a patent airway. The airway prevents the tongue from (either partially or completely) obstructing the airway.

The oropharyngeal airway was designed by Arthur E. Guedel, an American anaesthetist (1883-1956).

Oropharyngeal airways are available a spread of sizes, from infant to adult.

Oropharyngeal airways are usually indicated for unconscious patients because there's a high probability that the device would stimulate a conscious or semi-conscious patient's pharyngeal reflex . this might cause the patient to vomit and potentially cause an obstructed airway. Nasopharyngeal airways are mostly used when the patient features a pharyngeal reflex , thanks to the very fact that it are often used on a conscious patient, whereas the oropharyngeal cannot.

Guedel airway insertion

The correct size oropharyngeal airway is chosen by measuring against the patient's head (the flange is aligned with the centre of the lips and therefore the tip to the angle of the jaw). The airway is then inserted into the patient's mouth the wrong way up . Once contact is formed with the rear of the throat, the airway is rotated 180 degrees. In children, the airway is inserted right side up (to avoid trauma to the soft tissues). Oropharyngeal airways are the most typical explanation for damage to teeth in anaesthetised patients.

Primary Features and Benefits of the Geudel Airway

Color coded for convenient identification of sizes
Available in variable sizes
Consists of integrated bite block to prevent the patient from biting down and occluding airway.
Smooth beveled tip allowing easy insertion and minimizing the risk of causing patient trauma.
Packed individually and sterilized to reduce the risk of cross- infection.

The airway kit supplied by First Medical Training comes equipped with variety of unique advantages which aren't often found in additional generic alternatives. Each airway is colour coded; enabling the user to quickly identify which one is fitted to the patient. There are variety of sizes and these are intended to accommodate airways of varied sizes (ranging between infants and adults). These devices are fashioned from a mixture of two different materials. Thus, the presence of a typical bite block is not any longer required. Each unit is meant for one use and as they're all anatomically correct, manual intubation shouldn't present a problem . an outsized channel (lumen) helps to market proper respiration.