Which devices are common supraglottic airway devices used by EMS?

Which devices are common supraglottic airway devices used by EMS?

• A. Endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway
• B. King LT and laryngeal mask airway
• C. Nasopharyngeal airway and oropharyngeal airway
• D. Esophageal-tracheal tube and King LT

Answer: (B)

Supraglottic airway devices are designed to seal the airway above the vocal cords so you can ventilate without passing a tube into the trachea. In EMS, the two common options are the laryngeal mask airway, which sits over the laryngeal inlet to form a seal around the glottis, and the King LT, a dual‑cuff device that sits in the pharyngeal area to seal above the glottis and allow ventilation without endotracheal intubation. Endotracheal tubes actually pass through the glottis into the trachea, so they’re not supraglottic. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways are basic airway adjuncts that help keep the airway open but do not seal above the glottis. An esophageal‑tracheal tube is a dual-lumen device used in some emergency scenarios but is not considered a standard EMS supraglottic device, making it less relevant here.

Supraglottic airway devices are designed to seal the airway above the vocal cords so you can ventilate without passing a tube into the trachea. In EMS, the two common options are the laryngeal mask airway, which sits over the laryngeal inlet to form a seal around the glottis, and the King LT, a dual‑cuff device that sits in the pharyngeal area to seal above the glottis and allow ventilation without endotracheal intubation.

Endotracheal tubes actually pass through the glottis into the trachea, so they’re not supraglottic. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways are basic airway adjuncts that help keep the airway open but do not seal above the glottis. An esophageal‑tracheal tube is a dual-lumen device used in some emergency scenarios but is not considered a standard EMS supraglottic device, making it less relevant here.