Nasopharyngeal airway

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In medicine, a nasopharyngeal airway, also known as a nasal trumpet because of its flared end, is a tube that is designed to be inserted into the nasal passageway to secure an open airway. The purpose of the flared end is to prevent the device from becoming lost inside the patient's head. A safety pin is often included in the NPA kit to be attached to the outside for just such a purpose.

Nasopharygeal airways are sometimes used by people who have sleep apnea.

These devices are also used by emergency care professionals such as paramedics in situations where an artificial form of airway maintenance is necessary but it is impossible or unadvisory to use an oropharyngeal airway. For example, in a patient having epileptic seizures whose teeth are clenched shut. In an unconscious patient, suction of the upper airways may also be applied via an NPA.

Insertion is contraindicated in patients with severe head or facial injuries, or have evidence of a basal skull fracture (Battle's sign) due to the possibility of direct intrusion upon brain tissue.