Airway

Snoring respirations and the gag reflex

Snoring in an unconscious patient usually means the tongue is obstructing the pharynx. You need a basic airway adjunct before effective bag-valve-mask ventilations—not suction first when there is no fluid and not an oropharyngeal airway when the patient still gags.

An intact gag reflex contraindicates an OPA; choose an nasopharyngeal airway instead, then ventilate. Pair adjunct selection with the failure versus distress picture: slow, shallow snoring may still be inadequate ventilation requiring BVM after the adjunct is placed.