"

Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA)

The oropharyngeal airway is for use in patients with a compromised airway who do not possess a gag reflex. This airway adjunct should always be used in conjunction with manual airway maneuvers to reduce airway obstruction by the tongue. The adjunct can be used in conjunction with one or two NPA devices. If gaging or vomiting occurs, remove the device and suction as needed.

  1. Find the correct size by measuring from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe
  2. Insert at 900 or 1800 (preference) from the chin rotate the tip into the patient’s airway, seating the device behind the tongue
  3. When properly sized, the flange should rest on the teeth
Anatomy of inserted OPA adjunct relative to the esophagus, trachea, tongue and pharynx.
Anatomy of inserted OPA adjunct.
A gloved EMT standing at the head of a manikin with OPA in place.
OPA Inserted Image by Holly Edwins, CC-BY-NC-SA.
OPA Insertion Skill Verification Table

OPA

1

2

3

4

5 (instructor)

Initials

The original copy of this book resides at openoregon.pressbooks.pub/emslabmanual. If you are reading this work at an alternate web address, it may contain content that has not been vetted by the original authors and physician reviewers.

 

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Oregon EMS Psychomotor Skills Lab Manual Copyright © 2023 by Chris Hamper, BS, NRP; Carmen Curtz, Paramedic, BS; Holly A. Edwins, Paramedic, B.S.; and Jamie Kennel, PhD, MAS, NRP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book