What nostril do you put an NPA in?
The right nostril is often preferred for NPA insertion given that it is typically larger and straighter than the left. A correctly sized NPA will have the flared end resting on the nostril.
How do you measure and insert nasopharyngeal nasal airway?
Measure the length of the airway to ensure it does not cause obstruction. Open the nares to reveal the nasal passage. Inspect both nares to determine which side is wider. Lubricate the nasopharyngeal airway with water-soluble lubricant or anesthetic jelly such as lidocaine gel.
What is the first thing you should do before inserting a nasopharyngeal airway?
Before inserting the airway, clear the mouth of secretions such as vomit, blood, or sputum using a suction catheter. Place the oral airway in the mouth with the curved end towards the hard palate or the roof of the mouth.
What is the most serious potential complication of nasopharyngeal airway insertion?
Cribriform insertion is perhaps the most catastrophic complication of a nasopharyngeal airway, but it is also the least likely. Improper technique can cause the tube to enter the cribriform plate, causing soft tissue or skull damage, and potentially even penetrating the brain.
How do I know what size nasopharyngeal airway to get?
Select the proper size airway by measuring from the tip of the patient’s earlobe to the tip of the patient’s nose. The diameter of the airway should be the largest that will fit. To determine this, select the size that approximates the diameter of the patient’s little finger.
What is the benefit of a nasopharyngeal airway?
NPAs are passed into the nose and through to the posterior pharynx. NPAs do not cause patients to gag and are, therefore, the best airway adjunct in an awake patient and a better choice in a semiconscious patient that may not tolerate an oropharyngeal airway due to the gag reflex.
In which of the following patients can nasopharyngeal airways be used?
Nasopharyngeal airways are also used to keep the airway open and can be used with patients who are conscious or semi-conscious. For example, semi-conscious patients may need an NPA because they are at risk for airway obstruction but cannot have an OPA placed due to an intact gag reflex.
What is the abbreviation for nasopharyngeal airway?
nasopharyngeal airway. Abbreviation: NPA. A soft, flexible, uncuffed tube placed through the nasal passages so that the distal tip rests in the nasopharynx. It is used to maintain the free passage of air to and from the lungs in patients with facial trauma or lockjaw or in nearly comatose patients who are breathing spontaneously.
How do you measure a nasal airway?
Lubricate the nasopharyngeal airway with water-soluble jelly.
What is a nasal airway kit?
Nasopharyngeal Airway Kit, 9pc + 9pack jelly, 1 Kit per case. Description. Nasopharyngeal Airways, or Nasal Trumpets, are flexible tubes that are used ensure an open airway. The flared end of the Nasal Trumpet prevents the device from being lost inside the patient’s nose. The soft, latex-free material won’t damage the nasal passage.