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  • Nasopharyngeal airways provide a conduit for airflow between the nares and the pharynx.

  
  

  • Nasopharyngeal airways prevent mandibular tissue from obstructing the posterior pharynx.

  
  

  • Nasopharyngeal airways may be used in conscious patients (unlike oropharyngeal airways).

  
  

  • Nasopharyngeal airways may be used in children with impaired consciousness or in neurologically impaired patients with poor pharyngeal tone leading to upper airway obstruction.

  
  

  • Nasopharyngeal airways can be used to suction secretions.

Absolute

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  • Nasal airway occlusions.

  
  

  • Nasal fractures.

  
  

  • Coagulopathy (because of the risk of epistaxis).

  
  

  • Cerebrospinal fluid leak.

  
  

  • Basilar skull fracture.

  
  

  • Adenoidal hypertrophy.

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  • A nasopharyngeal airway is a soft rubber or plastic tube.

  
  

  • Nasopharyngeal airways come in various sizes ranging from 12F to 36F.

  
  

  • A shortened tracheal tube may be used as a nasopharyngeal airway.

  
  

  • Lubrication jelly.

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  • Nasal bleeding.

  
  

  • When using a shortened tracheal tube instead of a soft nasopharyngeal airway, injury to the soft tissues of the nasal passages may occur because of the rigid stiff plastic.