Securing a nasopharyngeal airway

OBJECTIVE: The nasopharyngeal airway is a simple airway adjunct used by various healthcare professionals. It is the least invasive method of safely managing upper airway obstruction. The objective of this report was to describe a rapid and very simple method of securing a nasopharyngeal airway in an agitated patient. METHOD: We describe a simple method of securing a nasopharyngeal airway, using safety pins and tapes. RESULT: This technique has been used by the authors in several emergency situations and has been found to be quick and effective. CONCLUSION: The nasopharyngeal airway is a simple piece of equipment that is cheap and easy to use. The technique described in this article is a simple, practical and effective method of securing a nasopharyngeal airway in an emergency situation.