Which device is an example of a supraglottic airway device used in aeromedical transport?

Which device is an example of a supraglottic airway device used in aeromedical transport?

• A. Endotracheal tube
• B. i-gel
• C. Oropharyngeal airway
• D. Nasal cannula

Answer: (B)

Supraglottic airway devices seal above the glottis to ventilate the lungs without passing a tube into the trachea, which is particularly useful in aeromedical settings where speed, stability, and minimal airway manipulation are crucial. The i-gel stands out because it uses a noninflatable gel-like cuff that conforms to the perilaryngeal anatomy and sits over the laryngeal inlet to create a reliable seal. This lets clinicians achieve rapid, effective ventilation with less training and fewer steps than cuffed endotracheal intubation, which is advantageous in a moving aircraft where time, patient stability, and minimizing cervical spine movement matter. In addition, its design supports ventilation under positive pressure and can be quickly inserted or used as a conduit if needed, making it well suited for aeromedical transport. By comparison, an endotracheal tube, while definitive, requires more skill and time; an oropharyngeal airway is simple but does not provide robust ventilation for all patients; a nasal cannula merely supplies oxygen and does not secure the airway for ventilation.