Which airway adjunct is most appropriate for an unconscious adult who has no gag reflex and needs the tongue kept away from the posterior pharynx?

Correct answer: A. Oropharyngeal airway

  • A. Oropharyngeal airway
  • B. Nasopharyngeal airway
  • C. Tracheostomy tube
  • D. Non-rebreather mask

Explanation

An oropharyngeal airway helps prevent the tongue from obstructing the pharynx in an unconscious patient without a gag reflex. It should not be inserted in a conscious patient or one with an intact gag reflex because it may cause vomiting and aspiration.

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About Oxygen Therapy and Airway Care

Airway care includes positioning, suctioning, coughing and deep-breathing exercises, incentive spirometry, oxygen delivery devices and humidification. Questions address indications, flow rates, safety precautions and monitoring for hypoxia or oxygen toxicity, while distinguishing nasal cannula, simple mask, non-rebreather mask and Venturi mask use.

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