Endotracheal intubation

• An endotracheal tube (ETT) is a flexible plastic tube with an inflatable cuff (balloon) at one end and a connector at the other
• The tip of the endotracheal tube is inserted through the mouth, throat (pharynx), larynx and vocal cords into the trachea
• Endotracheal tubes come in different sizes, with the diameter written in mm (e.g. 7-7.5mm for women, 8-8.5mm for men)

Supraglottic airway devices

• A supraglottic airway device (SAD) are an alternative to endotracheal intubation for ventilation
• They are very commonly used in both elective and emergency scenarios
• They are the first option if intubation fails in a difficult airway scenario
• The tip of the SAD will be located at the top of the oesophagus
• The cuff will fit around the opening of the larynx, forming a seal between the device and the airway
• The cuff can be inflatable or non-inflatable
• SADs with inflatable cuffs are called laryngeal mask airways (LMA)
• I-gel is a type of non-inflatable SAD that uses a gel-like cuff that moulds to the larynx

Other airways

Oropharyngeal (Guedel) airways

• Oropharyngeal airways are inserted into the oropharynx
• They are rigid and create an air passage between in front of the teeth and the base of the tongue, maintaining a patent upper airway
• They are inserted upside down, then rotated into position once the tip is past the tongue
• These are most often used when ventilating the patient via a face mask and bag prior to inserting an SAD or ETT
• The size is measured from the centre of the mouth to the angle of the jaw