Paediatric Nasopharyngeal Airways (PNA)
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2025-03-08
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Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
A paediatric nasopharyngeal airway (PNA) is an airway adjunct consisting of a hollow plastic tube designed to stent the nose and nasopharynx. Depending on the level of the obstruction the PNA will terminate in the nasopharynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx. It is better tolerated than an oropharyngeal (Guedel) airway and has the advantage that it can be used in patients with an intact gag reflex, trismus and oral trauma. Although PNAs have mainly been used in emergency and anaesthetic medicine, they are being increasingly used in paediatric otolaryngology. PNAs can be used to alleviate obstruction at any level from the anterior nasal cavity to the oropharynx (Table 1). They are often used to maintain airway patency in patients with a high risk of developing postoperative respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy.
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Reference:
Alvo, A., Sedano, C. & van der Meer, G. 2025. Paediatric Nasopharyngeal Airways (PNA). In Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery. J. Fagan, Ed.Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town. 6. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43512 .