NOTCHED AIRWAY DEVICE AND USE THEREOF IN BAG-MASK VENTILATION AND ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE PLACEMENT

摘要

Novel airway devices and methods address complications of ventilating a patient with a mask; placing an endotracheal tube in an awake patient; and need for a bite block during flexible bronchoscopy and gastroscopy. The airway device features notches for engaging maxillary and mandibular teeth in a manner protracting the patient's mandible relative to the maxilla to open up the airway. This way, an open airway is easily maintained simply by holding the jaw closed against the device with the same hand used to operate a bag ventilator. A longitudinal channel in the device features a downwardly curved end wall for improved guidance of the endoscope into position. The channel is open sided at the top or bottom to allow rolling of the airway device off the endoscope into an offset position serving as a protective bite block and allowing feeding of the endotracheal tube along the endoscope.