Oropharyngeal airway is not recommended for which patient group?

• A. Conscious patient
• B. Unresponsive patient without gag reflex
• C. Unresponsive patient with decreased consciousness
• D. Unresponsive patient with gag reflex

Answer: (A)

Oropharyngeal airways keep the tongue from blocking the airway by displacing it forward, and they work best when the patient cannot protect their airway due to a reduced level of consciousness. They are not recommended in someone who is conscious because their gag reflex is intact. Placing an airway device in a conscious patient would almost certainly trigger gagging, coughing, or vomiting and can lead to aspiration or further airway compromise. In contrast, unconscious or semiconscious patients without a gag reflex can tolerate an OPA and benefit from it to maintain patency while ventilation is supported. In patients with a gag reflex, or with oral trauma or dental issues, an OPA is avoided; a different airway approach is used instead.