Which statement about the oropharyngeal airway is correct?

• A. It is used only in conscious patients
• B. It is contraindicated in all patients with a gag reflex
• C. It is used for unresponsive patients without gag reflex and for patients with decreased consciousness but an intact gag reflex
• D. It is never used in suctioning

Answer: (C)

An oropharyngeal airway is used to keep the airway open when a patient cannot protect it on their own, by preventing the tongue from occluding the pharynx. It is appropriate for unresponsive patients who do not have a gag reflex, because those reflexes are diminished or absent and the device can be inserted without triggering gagging. It’s not suitable for conscious patients or anyone with an active gag reflex, since insertion can provoke coughing, gagging, or vomiting and aspiration. The device can also be used to help maintain an open airway during suctioning, which helps you clear secretions without the tongue blocking the passage. Among the statements, the one that aligns with these practical uses—open airway in unresponsive patients without gag reflex and in patients whose level of consciousness is reduced but who may still risk airway obstruction—best reflects how OPAs are used in emergency care.