Oral Airway Sizes and Color Coding System for Emergency Respiratory Care

Understanding Oral Airway Sizes and Colors

Oral airways are important medical devices used by paramedics, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to help patients breathe when they are unable to do so effectively on their own. Oral airways come in a variety of sizes and colors to accommodate different mouth openings and patient needs.

What Are Oral Airways?

Oral airways, also sometimes called oropharyngeal airways, are curved devices that are inserted into a patient's mouth to facilitate breathing by keeping the tongue from obstructing the patient's airway. Oral airways help ensure the patient gets sufficient oxygen when they are unconscious, sedated, or unable to maintain the airway on their own.

Oral airways are made of plastic and shaped in a gentle "J" curve to follow the contour of the mouth and throat. They create an open channel between the tongue and soft palate so air can pass freely towards the trachea and lungs.

Why Are There Different Sizes and Colors?

Oral airways come in a range of sizes, from pediatric to large adult, to properly fit patients of different ages and mouth openings. Using an airway that is too small or too large for a particular patient can be ineffective or even dangerous.

The different colors are visual cues that correspond to sizes to make selection easier in emergency situations:

• Pink: pediatric sizes for infants/toddlers
• Blue: small adult sizes for older children/small teens/petite adults
• White: medium adult sizes for average teens/adults
• Green: large adult sizes for larger teens/adults
• Orange: extra large sizes for very big mouths/patients

The color coding system allows healthcare providers to quickly identify and grab the size they need based on a visual cue rather than trying to recall exact measurements in a crisis.

Oral Airway Sizing Guidelines

More specifically, oral airway sizes are measured based on internal diameter and correlated to patient size as follows:

• Pediatric: 8-16mm
• Small adult: 30-50mm
• Medium adult: 50-60mm
• Large adult: 60-80mm
• Extra large adult: 80-100mm

As a rule of thumb for quick selection:

• Use pink pediatric size for ages 0-5 years
• Use blue small adult size for ages 4-12 years
• Use white medium adult size for most teenagers and female adults
• Use green large adult size for most male adults
• Use orange extra large for very big/burly adult patients

Proper Use of Oral Airways

It is important that oral airways are used correctly by appropriately trained medical personnel. Some key guidelines include:

• Select the appropriate size airway based on the patient's mouth opening and age
• Lubricate the airway with medical grade lubricant to allow smooth insertion
• Insert gently with the curve facing towards the roof of patient's mouth
• Angle slightly downwards towards the trachea once inserted
• Confirm correct placement and adequate airflow after insertion
• Secure airway with tape or holders once placed if ongoing use needed
• Monitor patient continuously and remove airway if patient regains ability to breathe independently

Using the wrong size oral airway or inserting improperly can displace the tongue or damage mouth/throat tissues. All medical personnel should be trained on proper oral airway usage protocols.

Advantages of Oral Airways

Some key benefits that make oral airways a staple rescue breathing device in medical kits include:

• Allow air passage even if throat muscles are relaxed
• Well tolerated in semi-conscious/stabilized patients
• Easy to insert and quick to work in emergencies
• Disposable and extremely portable
• Inexpensive and require minimal equipment/training

Limitations of Oral Airways

Despite usefulness, oral airways do have some drawbacks providers should recognize:

• Can stimulate cough/gag/vomit reflex in some conscious patients
• Do not protect against aspiration of stomach contents
• Not useful for patients who are clenching teeth closed
• Should only be used short term in stabilized patients

Due to limitations, oral airways may not be appropriate in all respiratory distress cases and are not a substitute for definitive airway management in critical patients.

When Are Oral Airways Indicated?

Common situations where an oral airway may help includes:

• Unconscious patient with inadequate breathing
• Overdose from opiates, anesthesia complicating breathing
• Head trauma patient with decreased gag reflex/mouth muscle tone
• Seizure patient who bit tongue causing airway blockage
• Patient temporarily sedated but breathing spontaneously

Oral airways can help support oxygenation in patients who just need temporary assistance getting through a breathing crisis if used correctly.

Contraindications for Oral Airway Use

Conversely, cases where oral airways may cause more harm than good include:

• Patient with intact gag reflex at baseline
• Trauma with possibility of basilar skull fracture
• Patient actively vomiting or at high aspiration risk
• Upper airway obstruction below the tongue
• Patient biting down and unable to open teeth

The risks may outweigh benefits if the patient cannot tolerate insertion or has certain medical conditions making oral airway use dangerous or ineffective.

Key Takeaways on Oral Airways

Remembering the following keypoints about oral airway sizes, colors, and usage indications can help medical providers incorporate this tool effectively:

• Pick size based on patient age and mouth opening size
• Use color coding to quickly choose appropriate size
• Lubricate and insert gently following natural mouth curvature
• Monitor oxygenation closely after placement
• Avoid using if patient has intact gag reflexes
• Remove once patient can sustain own airway function

Following the proper protocols for oral airway sizing and usage allows the devices to serve a valuable supportive role in emergency respiratory care when indicated.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.