Securing a nasopharyngeal airway.
OBJECTIVE
The nasopharyngeal airway is a simple airway adjunct used by various healthcare professionals. It is the least invasive method of safely managing upper airway obstruction. The objective of this report was to describe a rapid and very simple method of securing a nasopharyngeal airway in an agitated patient.


METHODS
We describe a simple method of securing a nasopharyngeal airway, using safety pins and tapes.


RESULTS
This technique has been used by the authors in several emergency situations and has been found to be quick and effective.


CONCLUSIONS
The nasopharyngeal airway is a simple piece of equipment that is cheap and easy to use. The technique described in this article is a simple, practical and effective method of securing a nasopharyngeal airway in an emergency situation.
Bajaj
Y
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Leeds General Infirmary, UK. ybajaj@hotmail.co.uk
Gadepalli
C
C
Knight
L C
LC
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods; D009305:Nasopharynx; D009666:Nose