What is the recommended approach to maintaining airway patency if a patient cannot keep their airway open?

• A. Ignore airway until distress worsens.
• B. Only perform jaw-thrust without adjuncts.
• C. Use airway adjuncts (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal) and position appropriately; call for help.
• D. Wait for EMS to arrive before acting.

Answer: (C)

Maintaining airway patency means actively keeping the airway open so air can reach the lungs. When a patient can’t keep the airway open on their own, the best approach is to use devices that bypass or keep the airway open and to position the head and neck to optimize airflow, while getting help. An oropharyngeal airway can hold the tongue away from the back of the throat in an unconscious patient who lacks a gag reflex, and a nasopharyngeal airway is an option when a gag reflex is present or a nasal route is acceptable. Positioning matters too: use a head-tilt/chin-lift in non-traumatic situations to align the airway, or a jaw-thrust if spinal injury is suspected to minimize neck movement while opening the airway. Call for help so additional support or advanced care can assist with ventilation if needed. This combination directly addresses obstruction and keeps the airway open, whereas ignoring it, relying on a single maneuver alone, or waiting for EMS without attempting immediate airway management can lead to rapid deterioration.