ABSTRACT
Oral airways are used to hold the tongue away from the posterior pharyngeal wall and prevent the soft tissues of the pharynx collapsing in, as shown in Figure 6.31. For adults, airways come in sizes 3, 4, and 5, corresponding to 80, 90, and 100 mm, respectively. Children s airways number 0, 1, and 2 (50, 60, and 70 mm), with numbers 000 and 00 being used for pre-term babies. Oral airways have a reinforced section immediately behind the flange to prevent clenching of the teeth compressing the lumen. They are usually made of plastic and disposable. A selection is shown in Figure 6.32.
