A blind insertion airway device (BIAD or blind insertion device) is a

medical device A medical device is any device intended to be used for medical purposes. Significant potential for hazards are inherent when using a device for medical purposes and thus medical devices must be proved safe and effective with reasonable assura ...

used for airway management that ensures an open pathway between a patient's

lungs The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side ...

and the outside world, as well as reducing the risk of aspiration, which can be placed without visualization of the glottis. Blind insertion airway devices are often used in the

pre-hospital Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...

and emergency setting. While the term blind insertion airway device does not refer to an

endotracheal tube A tracheal tube is a catheter that is inserted into the Vertebrate trachea, trachea for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a patent airway and to ensure the adequate Gas exchange, exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Many diffe ...

, it too can also be blindly inserted in certain circumstances, or inserted using a BIAD as a conduit for an endotracheal tube, or by using a bougie or airway exchange catheter. Blind insertion devices have a number of limitations compared to endotracheal intubation, firstly the risk of aspiration is higher when using a blind insertion device. Examples of blind insertion airway devices are: *

Combitube The Combitube—also known as the esophageal tracheal airway or esophageal tracheal double-lumen airway—is a blind insertion airway device (BIAD) used in the pre-hospital and emergency setting.Jorge E. Zamora and Tarit K. Saha,Combitube rescue f ...

Laryngeal tube The laryngeal tube (also known as the King LT)
, ''University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesia'' Website retrieved ...

Laryngeal mask airway A laryngeal mask airway (LMA), also known as laryngeal mask, is a medical device that keeps a patient's Respiratory tract, airway open during anaesthesia or while they are Unconsciousness, unconscious. It is a type of supraglottic airway device. ...

Nasopharyngeal airway In medicine, a nasopharyngeal airway, also known as an NPA, nasal trumpet (because of its flared end), or nose hose, is a type of ''airway adjunct'', a tube that is designed to be inserted through the nasal passage down into the posterior pharynx ...

Oropharyngeal airway An oropharyngeal airway (also known as an oral airway, OPA or Guedel pattern airway) is a medical device called an ''airway adjunct'' used in airway management to maintain or open a patient's airway. It does this by preventing the tongue from cov ...

Additional images

Image:Combitube.JPG, A

combitube The Combitube—also known as the esophageal tracheal airway or esophageal tracheal double-lumen airway—is a blind insertion airway device (BIAD) used in the pre-hospital and emergency setting.Jorge E. Zamora and Tarit K. Saha,Combitube rescue f ...

. Image:Laryngeal Tube.JPG, A

laryngeal tube The laryngeal tube (also known as the King LT)
, ''University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesia'' Website retrieved ...

Image:Laryngeal mask 100.jpg, A laryngeal mask. Image:Oral Airway (4) Adult Large.JPG,

Image:Wendltubus.jpg, A

nasopharyngeal airway In medicine, a nasopharyngeal airway, also known as an NPA, nasal trumpet (because of its flared end), or nose hose, is a type of ''airway adjunct'', a tube that is designed to be inserted through the nasal passage down into the posterior pharynx ...

References

{{Anesthesia Medical equipment Anesthetic equipment