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Nasopharyngeal Airway
Aka: Nasopharyngeal Airway, Nasal Pharangeal Airway, Nasal Airway, Nasal Trumpet
- Indications
- Airway maintenance
- Oral Airway placement difficult
- Semiconscious patient not tolerating Oral Airway
- Nasotracheal Intubation guide in Maxillofacial Trauma
- Contraindications
- Facial injury
- Basilar Skull Fracture
- Coagulopathy
- Complications
- Esophageal intubation (if too long)
- Laryngospasm
- Vomiting (less likely than with Oral Airway)
- Nasal mucosa injury and secondary blood aspiration
- Sizing
- General
- Airway diameter should not be too large
- Should not blanche the nasal ala
- Length: Tip of the nose to the tragus of the ear
- Adult
- Large: 8-9 mm Internal Diameter (I.D.)
- Medium 7-8 mm Internal Diameter (I.D.)
- Small 6-7 mm Internal Diameter (I.D.)
- Child
- Diameters: 12F (~3mm ET Tube) to 36F
- Alternatively may use a shortened ET Tube
- ET Tube 3 mm will fit a term newborn's NP airway
- Images

- Technique
- Lubricate with water soluble lubricant (or Anesthetic jelly)
- Gently insert into nostril
- Leading edge of bevel should be away from septum (away from Kiesselbach's Plexus)
- If results in upside-down Nasal Trumpet, rotate 180 degrees after passing the anterior nare
- Insert along floor of nostril, perpendicular to face
- If resistance occurs
- Try slight tube rotation
- Try other nostril
- Check for respirations following placement
- Maintenance
- Check patency frequently
- Tube may be blocked by mucus, blood, secretions