CRITICAL CARENURSING:PATIENT CHALLENGES ANDNURSING CONSIDERATIONSArtificial AirwaysCarrington CollegeNursing DepartmentElisa Giglio-Siudzinski, RN, MSN, CCRNDouble-Click on the speaker icon at the upper rightcorner of each slide to listen to the voiceover
ARTIFICIAL AIRWAYSAND NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
OROPHARYNGEAL AIRWAYS(OPA)Only used in unconscious pt.Right size keeps the tonguefrom falling down the back ofthroatInsert upside down & whenthe tip of the airway reachesthe back of the tongue pastthe soft palate, rotate theairway 180 degrees so the tipof the airway points towardthe throat
COMPLICATIONS OF OPASIf not properly sized maycompletely obstructairway or cause throatinjuryMay stimulate vomiting,aspiration, and/orlaryngospasm in theconscious orsemiconscious patient
NASOPHARYNGEAL AIRWAYS (NPA)Also referred to as a “nasal trumpet” – you mightrecognize its use as a “rectal” trumpet as wellAirway of choice in awake or lightly
