Oropharyngeal Airway/Guedel Airway

Guedel Airway is a medical device used to maintain the upper airway of unconscious patients. It physically supports the space between the tongue root and the posterior pharyngeal wall to prevent the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway. It is widely used in anesthesia resuscitation, emergency treatment (such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or temporary airway management of comatose patients.

Indications and contraindications

Indications:

Retroglostic airway obstruction in patients who are not fully awake after general anesthesia.

Temporary airway maintenance during coma or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Transitional measures before mask ventilation or endotracheal intubation.

Contraindications:

Awake or semi-awake patients (may induce vomiting or laryngeal spasm).

Patients with active pharyngeal reflex, oral trauma or mandibular fracture.

Product advantages and risks

Advantages:

Simple and fast operation, low cost, suitable for emergency scenarios.

Transparent material makes it easy to observe secretions or vomit.

Some children's models are designed with a "double-lumen" structure (such as Rüsch SafeGuard) and an integrated suction channel.

Risks and precautions:

Inadvertent insertion too deep may cause laryngeal injury or aspiration.

Prolonged use may cause oral mucosal pressure or ulcers.

Secretion needs to be suctioned regularly to avoid blocking the ventilation slot.