Which airway adjunct is used to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway in unresponsive patients without a gag reflex?

• A. Oropharyngeal airway
• B. Nasopharyngeal airway
• C. Endotracheal tube
• D. Laryngeal mask airway

Answer: (A)

In an unresponsive patient without a gag reflex, the tongue can fall back and block the airway. An oropharyngeal airway is designed to sit in the mouth and hold the tongue away from the back of the throat, creating a clear path for air. It’s inserted with the tip toward the hard palate then rotated into place so the curved portion rests behind the tongue and the flange rests on the lips. This simple device keeps the airway open during ventilation until a definitive airway can be secured.

This option isn’t used in patients who still have a gag reflex or who may aspirate if the airway is stimulated, because it can provoke coughing, gagging, or vomiting. Other devices work in different situations: a nasopharyngeal airway can be used when an oral airway isn’t tolerated or the nose is accessible, a laryngeal mask airway provides a supraglottic seal, and an endotracheal tube offers a definitive airway for long-term ventilation but is more invasive than a simple adjunct.