OPA Flashcards
Therapeutic Effects
Improves airway patency
Indications
Any unconscious patient without a gag reflex
Contraindications
Patients with an intact gag reflex
Side Effects 1
Partial or complete obstruction of the airway (usually from improper sizing)
Side Effects 2
localized soft tissue. mucosal, dental damage
Side Effects 3
Retching vomiting caused by intack gag reflex
Procedure 1 Cross finger
Take standard precautions
Procedure 2
Maintain manual immobilization of the c-spine throughout procedure, if suspected c-spine injury is suspected
Procedure 3
Select an appropriately size Oropharangeal Airway - Measure from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe or the angle of the jaw
Procedure 4
Insert the tip toward the roof of mouth - rotate 180 when the tip reaches the soft palette. Or sideway in the corner of the mouth and rotate 90 to advance into place
Procedure 5
the flange should rest against the patients teeth while the other end opening into the pharynx
Procedure 1 Tongue Depressor or Bite stick
Insert tongue depressor into the mouth untill the tip is at the base of the tongue
Procedure 2
The tongue is then pressed down towards the mandible and foward with the tongue depressor
Procedure 3
The airway is then inserted in its normal anatomical position, resting against the teeth
Procedure 4
REMOVE THE DEVICE IMMEDIATELY is the patient starts to retch or gag