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