After a bicycle accident, an 8-year-old shows signs of facial trauma and unresponsiveness. Which airway adjunct is most appropriate?

In situations involving an unresponsive child with facial trauma, the selection of an airway adjunct is critical to ensure proper airway management. The oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is particularly appropriate in this scenario for several reasons.

Firstly, the OPA is designed to maintain patency by preventing the tongue from obstructing the airway, which is a common concern in unresponsive patients. Given the child’s unresponsiveness following a bicycle accident, using an OPA can help provide a clear pathway for air to enter the lungs. It is also beneficial because it can be inserted without requiring the patient to have an intact gag reflex, simplifying airway management in potentially difficult circumstances like facial trauma.

In contrast, other options may pose risks or may not be appropriate in this context. The nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) might be contraindicated due to the potential for additional injury to facial structures if the trauma includes significant midface or nasal injuries. The head tilt-chin lift maneuver, while useful in many airway management situations, is less effective in cases of suspected cervical spine involvement, which can be concerning in trauma cases. Elevating the head of the bed is generally not advisable when immediate airway establishment is necessary for an unresponsive patient.

Therefore, using