A new airway for tracheal or esophageal insertion: description and field experience

A tracheal-esophageal airway for field or hospital use is described. The airway consists of a clear plastic mask and endotracheal low pressure cuffed tube with a Murphy tip. It is designed to function equally well whether the endotracheal tube portion of the airway is inserted into the trachea or esophagus. The endotracheal tube is attached to the mask by a tubular coupler and easily disconnected by removing a metal clip in the event of tracheal insertion of the tube. Our four-year experience with the tracheal-esophageal airway in 400 cardiac arrests has shown it to be safe, simple, and useful.