Airway Management

Medical compounds and tubing for airway management devices

Airway management is a critical element of many hospital procedures and treatments, from unblocking secretions in the airway, administering complicated aspiration, and to reducing trauma or lowering the risk of respiratory distress. Equipment design is key and selecting the right materials and tubing is the foundation for this. Airway management systems can be grouped into a number of categories, with several different device types within each category. These include: breathing circuits and attachments (e.g. nasal canula, oxygen hoods, facemasks), extraglottic airway devices, endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy access, and suction devices for airway clearance (e.g. soft catheters and Yankauer tube).

Ventilation is a critical function for many medical procedures/ treatments. This therapy may be needed when a person shows signs of respiratory distress, apnoea or breathing failure.  This treatment approach is non-invasive and versatile.

Extraglottic airway devices

The device is designed to open the upper airway to allow for unobstructed ventilation, allowing a person to breathe when there is an airway obstruction. When mask ventilation fails or endotracheal intubation is not required, an extraglottic airway can fill the gap, towards airway management during a medical procedure.

Endotracheal and endobronchial intubation

Endotracheal/ endobronchial intubation involves the insertion of a tube into the airway through the throat. The tube is designed to clear the airway, provide ventilation and facilitate delivery of medication.

Tracheal intubation

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure involving an incision on front of the neck and opening a direct airway through an opening in the trachea. The resulting stoma can serve independently as an airway or as a site for tracheostomy tube to be inserted; thus allowing a person to breathe without the use of the nose or mouth.

Airway clearance and suction devices

Suctioning is a way of removing excess fluid or mucus from the throat and upper airway by insertion of a soft catheter or rigid Yankauer through the mouth and applying suction to clear the secretions.