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How do you oxygenate a patient (while you are preparing for RSI) if suction, moving the tongue, and basic BVM ventilation are unsuccessful?

Pharyngeal Airways
  • These tools bypass the posterior portion of the tongue to help with BVM ventilation
  • Nasopharyngeal Airway (NP)
    • Measure from earlobe to tip of nose
    • TEST QUESTION: Don’t use in a patient with possible skull fracture
  • Oropharyngeal Airway (OP)
    • Measure from earlobe to corner of mouth
Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA)
  • Essentially a modified BVM to place inside the mouth
  • It fits OVER the larynx (cords, epiglottis, etc)
Retroglottic Airways
  • “King”
  • “Combitube”
Additional Reading