Answer: C - The correct distance to measure to ensure you select the proper oropharyngeal airway is to measure from the corner of the mouth to the tip of the earlobe.
An oropharyngeal airway, a curved plastic device, is inserted into the mouth to the posterior pharynx to establish or maintain a patent airway. In an unconscious patient, the tongue usually obstructs the posterior pharynx. The oropharyngeal airway conforms to the curvature of the palate. This removes the obstruction and allows air to pass around and through the tube. It also facilitates oropharyngeal suctioning. The oropharyngeal airway is intended for short-term use, as in the postanesthesia or postictal stage. However, it may be left in place longer as an airway adjunct to prevent the orally intubated patient from biting the endotracheal tube.
The oropharyngeal airway would not be the airway of choice for the patient with loose or avulsed teeth or who has undergone recent oral surgery.
