Pharyngeal Airway?

[Beanie]

One of my bro-in-laws is getting together a first aid kit for one of my other bro-in-laws who's a missionary in Alaska and he asked me to find out what a pharyngeal airway is and how pertinent it is in first aid.
Do any of y'all know?
Also, any suggestions for things to put in a first aid kit - that would be going out to the remote Alaskan bush - besides the usual (triangular bandage, heavy gauze, tourniquet (last ditch, of course), frost bite treatment, etc.) ?
By the way, this is going to a guy who thinks all you need for first aid is electrical tape and super glue. *eye roll*

 

[TransportJockey]

Which one? A nasal pharyngeal airway?

or oral pharyngeal airway?

 

[Beanie]

I think nasal but I'm not sure.

 

[DesertMedic66]

If you're way out in the bush and need an OPA or NPA you are probably better served with having a body bag.

 

[Beanie]

If you're way out in the bush and need an OPA or NPA you are probably better served with having a body bag.

To the point! Okay, so not so useful?

 

[SomeGuy9005]

Does your brother have any training in the use of airway adjuncts?

 

[DesertMedic66]

To the point! Okay, so not so useful?

Saying out in the bush means normally at least an hour until help can get to you (at least). An OPA/NPA are used for patients with unstable airways who may need help with ventilation. So out in the bush that pretty much equals death

 

[MonkeyArrow]

Unless you have a BVM and can sustain ventilations while not having the patient declining in cardiovascular status, sure adjuncts are fine in the bush. But you need other airway management tools to help, most of the time.

 

[chaz90]

I don't know, I think there could be a place for wilderness NPAs. They're light and worth bringing along in my mind. Even OPAs wouldn't be completely worthless.

 

[OnceAnEMT]

I don't know, I think there could be a place for wilderness NPAs. They're light and worth bringing along in my mind. Even OPAs wouldn't be completely worthless.

Adjuncts are dropped in people that can't control their own airway, be it due to a low level of consciousness or trauma. If they can't control their own airway, they are either already or will soon be not breathing adequately. If they are not breathing adequately, they need ventilating. So you now need a pocket mask or face shield, but I don't see anyone giving rescue breaths for an hour in the wilderness without moving, so now you need a BVM the size of your first aid kit.

If someone is asking what an airway adjunct is, they probably are not in any way certified to drop one. They are even discussed in AHA CPR classes.

Don't bother with airway adjuncts unless you are going to bother with a BVM and an O2 and expect an ALS intercept at some point fairly soon.

 

[chaz90]

Adjuncts are dropped in people that can't control their own airway, be it due to a low level of consciousness or trauma. If they can't control their own airway, they are either already or will soon be not breathing adequately. If they are not breathing adequately, they need ventilating. So you now need a pocket mask or face shield, but I don't see anyone giving rescue breaths for an hour in the wilderness without moving, so now you need a BVM the size of your first aid kit.

If someone is asking what an airway adjunct is, they probably are not in any way certified to drop one. They are even discussed in AHA CPR classes.

Don't bother with airway adjuncts unless you are going to bother with a BVM and an O2 and expect an ALS intercept at some point fairly soon.

Right, hence being known as "adjuncts." In certain traumatic injuries, they can still help maintain a somewhat compromised airway for a period of time, and with a BVM they certainly have their uses. They won't fix someone on their own, and whoever is carrying them needs some sort of education, but I maintain they could have their place in a well stocked first aid kit with additional help on the way.

Also, I didn't notice in the OP that the individual has no previous medical training or background. That would be a pre-requisite.

 

[Carlos Danger]

Adjuncts are dropped in people that can't control their own airway, be it due to a low level of consciousness or trauma. If they can't control their own airway, they are either already or will soon be not breathing adequately. If they are not breathing adequately, they need ventilating. So you now need a pocket mask or face shield, but I don't see anyone giving rescue breaths for an hour in the wilderness without moving, so now you need a BVM the size of your first aid kit.

If someone is asking what an airway adjunct is, they probably are not in any way certified to drop one. They are even discussed in AHA CPR classes.

Don't bother with airway adjuncts unless you are going to bother with a BVM and an O2 and expect an ALS intercept at some point fairly soon.

Many things can cause a loss of responsiveness where pharyngeal tone is lost but respiratory drive remains normal.

And what if something happens that necessitates placement of one when you are only a mile from help? It's not like every time you need one of these, you will definitely be way out in the backcountry.

Considering their light weight and size, I'd pack a few for sure. Put 'em in a ziploc bag with a few packets of lube and a pocket mask. If it's a kit that stays in a vehicle or building, I'd definitely add a BVM.

 

[OnceAnEMT]

And what if something happens that necessitates placement of one when you are only a mile from help? It's not like every time you need one of these, you will definitely be way out in the backcountry.

Then we are talking about 2 different scenarios.

Also, any suggestions for things to put in a first aid kit - that would be going out to the remote Alaskan bush - besides the usual (triangular bandage, heavy gauze, tourniquet (last ditch, of course), frost bite treatment, etc.) ?

 

[Carlos Danger]

Then we are talking about 2 different scenarios.

I used to live in Alaska. When people say "I'm going way out into the bush" to hunt or fish or whatever, what they very often mean is they'll be based in a small, remote town or village (where medical help of some type is available), and venture out from there, but not usually more than a handful of miles from the village. Plus, no matter how far out in the bush you are, there will always be that period of time where you are on your way out or back and are not that far from help.

But my larger point was that there are plenty of scenarios where a simple airway adjunct could potentially be helpful, even without a BVM and oxygen. The cost vs. potential benefit seems clearly on the side of carrying them, IMO.

 

[MonkeyArrow]

Yes, for the record, a NPA is worth its weight to carry even if you have no BVM. However, just be aware that it is by no means an end all be all problem to your solution. It is merely capable of keeping someone's airway open. They still have to breathe on their own (or you have to for them), airway adjunct or not.

 

[MackTheKnife]

One of my bro-in-laws is getting together a first aid kit for one of my other bro-in-laws who's a missionary in Alaska and he asked me to find out what a pharyngeal airway is and how pertinent it is in first aid.
Do any of y'all know?
Also, any suggestions for things to put in a first aid kit - that would be going out to the remote Alaskan bush - besides the usual (triangular bandage, heavy gauze, tourniquet (last ditch, of course), frost bite treatment, etc.) ?
By the way, this is going to a guy who thinks all you need for first aid is electrical tape and super glue. *eye roll*

Let me comment on your tourniquet "last ditch, of course" parenthetical. Tournaments are FIRST LINE treatment for severe extremity bleeds. Direct pressure with your knee or elbow (femoral or axillary), and put on the tourniquet. Carry two. If you're in AK, you're not going to be able to call 911. And if you are, evacuation time is delayed. For areas not amenable to a TK, Celox or Quickclot.
Basically what you need is a blowout kit. It will have at least one TK (get another) and an NPA. It doesn't take much training to use either.

 

[Beanie]

As a missionary, the guy getting this kit will be going to both easy- and hard-access areas, and he has no first aid or other emergency care training as far as I know.
I guess I'll tell him: "It's up to you whether you want to get an NPA/OPA, and consider getting a BVM/face mask; get it or not, pray you don't ever need it."
Do I understand correctly that a pharyngeal airway simply opens the airway?
Thanks,everybody, for your input.

 

[9D4]

As a missionary, the guy getting this kit will be going to both easy- and hard-access areas, and he has no first aid or other emergency care training as far as I know.
I guess I'll tell him: "It's up to you whether you want to get an NPA/OPA, and consider getting a BVM/face mask; get it or not, pray you don't ever need it."
Do I understand correctly that a pharyngeal airway simply opens the airway?
Thanks,everybody, for your input.

Sort of. It's not that it's opening it, it just helps to provide a more stable airway. I don't know how else to word that.
To truly help open it would have to be manually (head tilt chin lift/ jaw thrust). OPAs are preferred because they help the tongue from becoming an obstruction. Clinically the person has to be deteriorating to accept one, however, as they cannot have a gag reflex. I honestly rarely see NPAs used. Don't know if it's just my area but I've never used one and never seen one used save for once. Take that for what it's worth, since I'm a little new to this and don't have a ton of field time, just my observations.

 

[MackTheKnife]

Sort of. It's not that it's opening it, it just helps to provide a more stable airway. I don't know how else to word that.
To truly help open it would have to be manually (head tilt chin lift/ jaw thrust). OPAs are preferred because they help the tongue from becoming an obstruction. Clinically the person has to be deteriorating to accept one, however, as they cannot have a gag reflex. I honestly rarely see NPAs used. Don't know if it's just my area but I've never used one and never seen one used save for once. Take that for what it's worth, since I'm a little new to this and don't have a ton of field time, just my observations.

NPAs are a tactical airway. Primary airway for a blowout kit. Used in TCCC.

 

[Carlos Danger]

As a missionary, the guy getting this kit will be going to both easy- and hard-access areas, and he has no first aid or other emergency care training as far as I know.
I guess I'll tell him: "It's up to you whether you want to get an NPA/OPA, and consider getting a BVM/face mask; get it or not, pray you don't ever need it."
Do I understand correctly that a pharyngeal airway simply opens the airway?
Thanks,everybody, for your input.

If this dude recognizes the potential need for a well-stocked medical kit, he should probably recognize the need to obtain some training in how to use the stuff.