The Connell airway: a feasibility study.

Management of the patient's airway during sedation preferably includes not only a dependable passageway for gas exchange, but also a reliable way to deliver oxygen and measure expired carbon dioxide. The Connell airway is a newly described modification of the nasopharyngeal airway that provides a conduit for gas exchange and 2 additional channels: 1 for the administration of oxygen and the second for monitoring of expired gases. We studied 10 sedated patients who had a Connell airway placed orally to support their airway during their procedure. Although minor difficulties were noted with early use of the device, subsequent experience demonstrated good performance of the device for airway support and oxygen delivery, easy observation of the end-tidal carbon dioxide waveform, and few minor complications. We believe that the Connell airway is a feasible airway design that could have use in the management of a patient's airway during sedation and that it warrants further investigation.