Airway

When the patient gags on an OPA

Gagging after oropharyngeal airway placement means the patient's airway defenses are active—forcing the device invites vomiting and aspiration. Never hold an OPA in place against a gag.

Remove the OPA immediately , consider an NPA if appropriate, and ventilate with a BVM. Bradypnea with a gag reflex is still a breathing emergency; sequence is remove, re-adjunct, then ventilate—not hyperventilate or ignore the gag.