BLS

Question 1

How do you protect the airway?

Answer 1

Oropharyngeal/gudel airway is used to maintain airway patency in an unconscious patient
once inserted the bag/valve/mask system or a ventilator / anaesthetic machine can be used to ventilate the patient
during anaesthesia the airway must remain patent and be protected from obstruction by blood, vomit or saliva. This can best be achieved by inserting an endotracheal tube into the airway. Once the patient is intubated, oxygen and anaesthetic gases can be delivered to the patient via the airway and end tidal CO2 can be monitored
a laryngeal mask airway may also be used during anaesthesia but this does not provide the airway with the same protection from aspiration = it is simpler to insert and may be used during anaesthesia if a patient is at low risk for aspiration or to maintain the airway in case of a difficult or failed intubation