Which abbreviation corresponds to Oropharyngeal Airway?

• A. OPA
• B. OD
• C. PALS
• D. tsp

Answer: (A)

Recognize the acronym for the device that keeps the airway open by preventing the tongue from occluding the oropharynx in an unconscious patient. That abbreviation is OPA, which stands for oropharyngeal airway. The oropharyngeal airway is a curved plastic tube inserted into the mouth to lift the tongue away from the back of the throat, creating a clear passage for air and facilitating bag‑mask ventilation. It’s used in patients who are unconscious or have a depressed gag reflex and is inserted with the tip toward the roof of the mouth and rotated 180 degrees as it slides past the tongue to seat properly. It should not be used in a conscious patient or someone with a gag reflex due to risk of vomiting and aspiration. Proper sizing is important—choose a length that places the tip near the base of the tongue without extending toward the larynx.

Other common acronyms in the options refer to things unrelated to airway devices (for example, overdose or optometry terms, a pediatric life-support program, or a unit of measure), so they do not describe the oropharyngeal airway.