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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-09-04 Origin: Site
The nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is a tube that is designed to provide airway passage from the nose to the posterior pharynx.
The Nasopharyngeal Airway is made from a soft PVC construction with a beveled tip for a comfortable & gentle insertion, which minimizes the chances of complications.
The Nasopharyngeal Airway is available in a full range of sizes (inc Paediatric).
When a patient becomes unconscious, the muscles in the jaw commonly relax and which can allow the tongue to slide back and obstruct the airway. The purpose of the flared end is to prevent the device from becoming lost inside the patient’s nose.
Unlike oral airways, NPAs can be used in patients who are conscious, semiconscious, or unconscious, for patients with an intact cough and gag reflex.
The use of NPA is contraindicated if there is trauma to the face, especially the nose, or if there is a suspected skull fracture.
Nasopharyngeal airway sizes are described using their internal diameter in millimeters, and usually, the range of sizes is approximately 2-9mm. The average size of a nasopharyngeal airway is 6-7mm for a woman and 7-8mm for a man.
The appropriate airway size is determined by measuring against the patient, the flared top of the airway is aligned with the tip of the nose and held against the jaw, and the correct size should reach the angle of the jaw, just below the earlobe.
If the NPA is too long, it will either enter the larynx, irritate the coughing and gag reflex, or be inserted into the vallecula, possibly causing airway obstruction. If too short, the NPA will fail to separate the soft palate and tongue from the pharynx.
Sizing using the patient’s finger as a guide is no longer recommended.
1. Select the correct size NPA by measuring from the tip of the nose to the end of the earlobe.
2. Apply lubricant to the bevel end of the NPA.
3. Place the patient's head in the neutral position.
4. Select the nostril with the widest opening, usually the right nostril.
5. Insert the airway bevel-end first and gently push the airway downwards along the floor of the nasopharynx until the flange rests against the nostril.
As with all adjunctive equipment, safe use of nasopharyngeal airways requires adequate training, practice, and retraining.
Long-term nasopharyngeal airways are usually changed every four to six weeks or earlier if needed.
Typically Complications include:
1. Epistaxis.
2. Ulceration.
3. Sinusitis and Nasal Structure Damage.
4. Gagging and the potential for vomiting and aspiration in conscious patients
Epistaxis is the most common complication of nasopharyngeal airway placement.
Oropharyngeal airways are indicated only in an unconscious person because of the likelihood that the device would stimulate a gag reflex in conscious or semi-conscious persons.
The nasopharyngeal airway has some advantages over an oropharyngeal airway, most notably it can be used in patients who are conscious, semiconscious, or unconscious, for patients with an intact cough and gag reflex. Another advantage of the nasopharyngeal airway is that it can be used in patients with mouth trauma, where an oropharyngeal airway cannot or should not be used.
Overall, the nasopharyngeal airway is an important tool in the medical field, helping to save lives and improve patient outcomes. It is crucial for healthcare providers to understand the proper use and classification of this device in order to provide the best care possible for their patients.
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