Emergency Medical Responder Practice Exam

An Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA) is a device designed to maintain or secure an open airway in patients who are unresponsive and cannot protect their own airway due to a lack of a gag reflex. The primary role of the OPA is to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway, which is particularly crucial in unresponsive patients who are at risk of airway blockage.

The use of an OPA in unresponsive patients without a gag reflex is appropriate because these patients cannot adequately breathe on their own and are unable to clear secretions or foreign materials. Inserting an OPA in such cases aids in ventilation and prevents potential asphyxiation.

Selecting this device for conscious patients with a gag reflex, responsive patients, or those experiencing seizures would not be recommended, as they could still manage their own airway or might react negatively to the presence of the OPA, leading to further complications such as gagging, vomiting, or aspiration. Thus, using an OPA confidently aligns with the protocol for securing the airway of unresponsive patients who lack the ability to protect it.