A mandibular protracting oral intubating airway has a rigid main body with a mouthpiece portion at the forward end. The mouthpiece portion has an annular front flange and a bite portion extending a short distance rearwardly therefrom which is generally oval-shaped in transverse cross section and has an annular rear flange at the rear end thereof. A flat, generally C-shaped tongue retractor portion extends rearwardly from the rear flange of the bite portion and curves downwardly. A resilient annular sleeve encircles the bite portion between the front and rear flanges and has a series of longitudinally spaced generally arcuate grooves extending transversely across its exterior top and bottom surfaces. When properly positioned in the mouth of a patient, the upper and lower teeth are retained in the grooves of the resilient sleeve with the mandible protracted maximally forward relative to the maxilla. This, and the underside of the downwardly curved tongue retractor hold the tip and most of the tongue forward and prevent it from falling backward and obstructing the airway. After the device has been installed, there is no need for continuous manual chin lift or jaw thrust to maintain an open oral airway. The mouthpiece portion functions as a bite block and the oval-shaped opening through the bite portion functions as an intubation guide to facilitate insertion of an endoscope and related medical instruments, such as a fiberoptic intubating stylet with an attached endotracheal tube.
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