Airway adjuncts are ways to help a patient breathe normally. There are a variety of airway adjuncts and can be used in different cases. We will now go through what they are and how to use them.

• Oropharyngeal Airways (OPAs)
  • A tube that goes into patient's mouth
  • Must be unconscious, without gag reflex
  • Pick the correct size (measuring against face), place upside down/sideways, and slowly rotate into the mouth



• Nasopharyngeal Airways (NPAs)
  • Tube that goes into the patients nose
  • Must be unconscious, OPA refused
  • Pick the correct size, lubricate, and slide into either nostril

Supraglottic airway (iGel)

• Another form of adjunct
• Remove from protective cradle, place soft tip into mouth and glide down and back until resistance felt

Needle Cricothyroidotomy

• If the above does not work, and CCT is not available in time, this allows for a temporary airway through the patient’s neck
  • Drape the neck
  • Sterilise the neck w/ chlorhexidine
  • Palpate cricothyroid membrane 
  • Insert the needle at 40-45 degrees
  • Advance needle .5cm, remove, leave catheter
  • Advance cannula until resistance 
  • Attach O2 administration
  • Secure

All of the airway adjuncts shown, excluding the Needle CCT, require you to attach a BVM to an oxygen canister then, place it over the mouth and provide regular ventilations.