Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA) Skills Sheet

0.0(0)
Studied by 0 people
call kaiCall Kai
learnLearn
examPractice Test
spaced repetitionSpaced Repetition
heart puzzleMatch
flashcardsFlashcards
GameKnowt Play
Card Sorting

1/8

encourage image

There's no tags or description

Looks like no tags are added yet.

Last updated 8:42 PM on 6/11/26
Name
Mastery
Learn
Test
Matching
Spaced
Call with Kai

No analytics yet

Send a link to your students to track their progress

9 Terms

1
New cards

All sections in order.

Therapeutic Effects | Indications | Contraindications | Side Effects | The student will demonstrate the use of the equipment/ procedure | Primary Method(s): For Adults | Alternate Method: Preferred in Pediatrics (demonstrated on adult airway head) | After Insertion:

2
New cards

Therapeutic Effects

Improves airway patency.

3
New cards

Indications

Any unresponsive patient without a gag reflex.

4
New cards

Contraindications

  1. Patients with an intact gag reflex

  2. Trismus (lockjaw)

5
New cards

Side Effects

  1. Obstruction of the airway (usually from improper sizing)

  2. Soft tissue or dental damage

  3. Retching or vomiting caused by an intact gag reflex

6
New cards

The student will demonstrate the use of the equipment/procedure

  1. Take and verbalize standard precautions

  2. Maintain manual C-spine stabilization if C-spine injury is suspected

7
New cards

Primary Method (s): For Adults

  1. Open the patient's mouth and look for foreign bodies and fluids, clear and properly suction if needed.

  2. Properly ventilate twice (consecutively) with a BVM to ensure a patent airway with chest rise

  3. Select an OPA: Measure from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe OR corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw to ensure proper sizing. (Student will measure OPA during testing)

  4. Using the cross-finger technique, open the patient’s mouth for insertion.

  5. A) Insert tip toward the roof of the mouth and rotate 180 degrees when the tip reaches the soft palate.

  6. B) Or, insert in the corner of the mouth and rotate 90 degrees as its advanced into place.

  7. The flange should rest against the patient’s teeth or gums, with the other end opening into the pharynx.

  8. If at any time the patient begins to gag, remove the device immediately.

8
New cards

Alternate Method: Preferred in Pediatrics

  1. Insert a tongue depressor/bite-stick into the mouth until the tip is at the base of the tongue.

  2. Press the tongue towards the mandible and forward.

  3. Insert the adjunct in it’s normal anatomical position, with the flange resting against the teeth or gums.

  4. If at any time the patient begins to gag, remove the device immediately.

9
New cards

After Insertion:

  1. Ventilate and assess the airway patency, looking for: (student will ventilate at least once)

  • Improvement in chest rise and bag compliance.

  • Improvement in pulse oximetry.

  • Improvement in skin color, temperature, and condition.