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A blind insertion airway device (BIAD or blind insertion device) is a medical device used for airway management, that ensures an open pathway between a patient’s lungs and the outside world, as well as reducing the risk of aspiration, which can be placed without visualization of the glottis. Blind insertion airway devices are often used in the pre-hospital and emergency setting.
While the term blind insertion airway device does not refer to an endotracheal tube, it too can also be blindly inserted in certain circumstances, or inserted using a BIAD as a conduit for an endotracheal tube, or by using a bougie or airway exchange catheter.
Blind insertion devices have a number of limitations compared to endotracheal intubation, firstly the risk of aspiration is higher when usin a blind insertion device.
Examples of blind insertion airway devices are: