Guedel Oral Airways
The Guedel Oral Airways are displayed in descending size from left to right. The muscles of the back of the mouth and throat that normally keep the air passage open can relax during anesthesia and block normal breathing. Oropharyngeal (oral) airways are inserted into the mouth and over the tongue to maintain the air passage. They are just one device used by anesthesiologists to maintain an unobstructed passage through which patients breathe during surgery.
Dr. Arthur E. Guedel (1883-1956) described his newly developed airway in 1933. Compared to oral airways made of metal, Guedel’s rubber airway posed less risk of injury to the patient’s mouth during insertion. The airway became so popular that even today oral airways of similar design are often referred to as ‘Guedel airways.’
Among his other significant accomplishments, Guedel is well known for having developed a guide to the stages and physical signs of ether anesthesia. His guide was relied upon by anesthesiologists around the world for half a century. He wrote a popular text on inhalation anesthesia and developed an early endotracheal tube with an inflatable rubber cuff.
Guedel’s character and career inspired a group of anesthesiologists to found the Arthur E. Guedel Memorial Anesthesia Center in 1963. The Center is housed within the Health Sciences Library at California Pacific Medical Center, in San Francisco.
Catalog Record: Guedel Oral Airways
Five Catalog Records (aiwe, aiwd, aiwc, aiwb, aiwa):
Access Key: aiwe
Accession No.: 2011-01-25-4
Title: [Guedel airway] : 5 / [designed by Arthur E. Guedel].
Author: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel’s airway.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel oropharyngeal airway : size 5.
Publisher: [S.l.] : [Foregger, 1940-1960].
Physical Description: 1 oropharyngeal airway : rubber, or rubber-plastic composite, metal ; 5 x 4.5 x 11 cm.
Subject: Oropharyngeal Airway Devices.
Subject: Airway Management Equipment.
Subject: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Note Type: General
Notes: Title based on the common name for the object plus size markings on the
flange.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: This description is based on the perspective of a user facing the flange and
lumen opening; The oropharyngeal airway is composed of a black, firm material
that has slight pliability; The surface of the material is smooth and has a
soft sheen; The flange is rounded and is approx. 2.9 cm high and 4.3 cm wide;
Embossed on the flange to the right and left of the opening is, “5”; The
opening to the central lumen is in the center of the flange and measures
approx. 1.6 cm in width and .6 cm in height; Visible in the opening of the
lumen is a metal insert in the bite area of the lumen; The body of the airway
is curved to fit the shape of the oropharyngeal space; The distance from the
flange to the opposite end of the airway when measured in a straight line is
approx. 10.5 cm; The distance between the flange and the end of the extension
when measured along the upper curve is approx. 13 cm; A cross-section of the
body of the airway would be oblate ellipsoid in shape.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. William Lyle, Sept. 24, 2010; Photographed with four
other Guedel airways of varying sizes.
Note Type: Historical
Notes: In 1933, Arthur Guedel (1883-1956) described his newly-developed
oropharyngeal airway in a short communication in the Journal of the American
Medical Association. Compared to oral airways made of metal, there was less
risk of injury to the patient’s mouth during the insertion of Guedel’s rubber
airway. The design and softer material made the airway so popular that even
today oral airways of similar design are often referred to as ‘Guedel Airways’.
Note Type: Historical
Notes: Guedel is also well known for having developed a guide to the stages and
physical signs of ether anesthesia which anesthesiologists around the world
relied upon for half a century. He also played a pivotal role in the
development of inhalation anesthesia by carefully developing, testing and
improving an endotracheal tube with an inflatable rubber cuff. He creatively
demonstrated the reliability of the ET tube’s seal by anesthetizing,
intubating and completely immersing a dog in water at the beginning of
presentations. At the conclusion of his presentations he would remove the dog
from the water, extubate and quickly recover the dog back to its healthy
pre-intubation condition. Guedel’s character and career inspired a group of
anesthesiologists to found the Arthur E. Guedel Memorial Anesthesia Center in
1963. Presently it is housed within the Health Sciences Library at California
Pacific Medical Center, in San Francisco.
Access Key: aiwd
Accession No.: 2010-09-21-1 F
Title: [Guedel airway] : 4 / [designed by Arthur E. Guedel].
Author: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel’s airway.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel oropharyngeal airway : size 4.
Publisher: [S.l.] : [Foregger, 1940-1960].
Physical Description: 1 oropharyngeal airway : rubber, or rubber-plastic composite, metal ; 4 x 4 x 10 cm.
Subject: Oropharyngeal Airway Devices.
Subject: Airway Management Equipment.
Subject: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Note Type: General
Notes: Title based on the common name for the object plus size markings on the
flange.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: This description is based on the perspective of a user facing the flange and
lumen opening; The oropharyngeal airway is composed of a black, firm material
that has slight pliability; The surface of the material is smooth and has a
soft sheen; The flange is rounded and is approx. 2.9 cm high and 4 cm wide;
Embossed on the flange to the right and left of the opening is, “4”; The
opening to the central lumen is in the center of the flange and measures
approx. 1.6 cm in width and .6 cm in height; Visible in the opening of the
lumen is a metal insert in the bite area of the lumen; The body of the airway
is curved to fit the shape of the oropharyngeal space; The distance from the
flange to the opposite end of the airway when measured in a straight line is
approx. 10 cm; The distance between the flange and the end of the extension
when measured along the upper curve is approx. 12 cm; A cross-section of the
body of the airway would be oblate ellipsoid in shape.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. William Lyle, Sept. 24, 2010; Photographed with four
other Guedel airways of varying sizes.
Note Type: Acquisition
Notes: Donated to the WLM by Hannsjoreg Hasche-Klunder, M.D.
Access Key: aiwc
Accession No.: 2011-01-25-3
Title: Guedel [airway / designed by Arthur E. Guedel].
Author: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Corporate Author: Foregger Company.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel’s airway.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel oropharyngeal airway.
Publisher: [S.l.] : [Foregger, 1940-1960].
Physical Description: 1 oropharyngeal airway : rubber, or rubber-plastic composite, metal ; 4 x 4 x 8.5 cm.
Subject: Oropharyngeal Airway Devices.
Subject: Airway Management Equipment.
Subject: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Note Type: General
Notes: Title based on the common name for the object plus the estimated size.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: This description is based on the perspective of a user facing the flange and
lumen opening; The oropharyngeal airway is composed of a black, firm material
that has slight pliability; The surface of the material is smooth and has a
soft sheen; The flange is rounded and is approx. 3.1 cm high and 3.8 cm wide;
Embossed on the flange is, “GUEDEL” above the lumen opening and “FOREGGER”
below the opening; The opening to the central lumen is in the center of the
flange and measures approx. 1.7 cm in width and .6 cm in height; Visible in
the opening of the lumen is a metal insert in the bite area of the lumen; The
body of the airway is curved to fit the shape of the oropharyngeal space; The
distance from the flange to the opposite end of the airway when measured in a
straight line is approx. 7.5 cm; The distance between the flange and the end
of the extension when measured along the upper curve is approx. 10.5 cm; A
cross-section of the body of the airway would be oblate ellipsoid in shape;
There are no markings indicating the size of this airway; It is possibly a
size 2 or 3.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. William Lyle, Sept. 24, 2010; Photographed with four
other Guedel airways of varying sizes.
Access Key: aiwb
Accession No.: 2004-03-16-1 C 1
Title: Guedel [airway] / [designed by Arthur E. Guedel].
Author: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Corporate Author: Foregger Company.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel’s airway.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel oropharyngeal airway : small.
Publisher: [S.l.] : [Foregger, 1940-1960].
Physical Description: 1 oropharyngeal airway : rubber, or rubber-plastic composite ; 2.5 x 2.5 x 6.5 cm.
Subject: Oropharyngeal Airway Devices.
Subject: Airway Management Equipment.
Subject: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Subject: Anesthesia, Pediatric.
Note Type: General
Notes: Title based on the common name for the object plus size markings on the bite.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: This description is based on the perspective of a user facing the flange and
lumen opening; The oropharyngeal airway is composed of a black, firm material
that has slight pliability; The surface of the material is smooth and has a
soft sheen; The flange is rounded and is approx. 2 cm high and 2.5 cm wide;
Embossed on the flange is, “GUEDEL” above the lumen opening and “FOREGGER”
below the opening; The opening to the central lumen is in the center of the
flange and measures approx. 1.2 cm in width and .4 cm in height; The body of
the airway is curved to fit the shape of the oropharyngeal space; The
distance from the flange to the opposite end of the airway when measured in a
straight line is approx. 5.5 cm; The distance between the flange and the end
of the extension when measured along the upper curve is approx. 7 cm; A
cross-section of the body of the airway would be oblate ellipsoid in shape;
Embossed on the upper bite is a 0 over a 2.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. William Lyle, Sept. 24, 2010; Photographed with four
other Guedel airways of varying sizes.
Note Type: Acquisition
Notes: Donated to the WLM by Bernard C. DeLeo, M.D.
Access Key: aiwa
Accession No.: 2011-01-25-2
Title: [Guedel airway] : 00 / [designed by Arthur E. Guedel].
Author: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel’s airway.
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Guedel oropharyngeal airway : size 00.
Publisher: West Germany : [s.n., 1940-1960].
Physical Description: 1 oropharyngeal airway : rubber, or rubber-plastic composite ; 2.5 x 3 x 4 cm.
Subject: Oropharyngeal Airway Devices.
Subject: Airway Management Equipment.
Subject: Guedel, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1883-1956.
Subject: Anesthesia, Pediatric.
Note Type: General
Notes: Title based on the common name for the object plus size markings on the
flange.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: This description is based on the perspective of a user facing the flange and
lumen opening; The oropharyngeal airway is composed of a black, firm material
that has slight pliability; The surface of the material is smooth and has a
soft sheen; The flange is rounded and is approx. 2.1 cm high and 2.6 cm wide;
Manufacturer’s markings on the flange include, “WEST GERMANY” in print and
the size “00” embossed of each side of the lumen opening; The opening to the
central lumen is in the center of the flange and measures approx. .5 cm in
width and .3 cm in height; The body of the airway is curved to fit the shape
of the oropharyngeal space; The distance from the flange to the opposite end
of the airway when measured in a straight line is approx. 3.5 cm; The
distance between the flange and the end of the extension when measured along
the upper curve is approx. 4.5 cm; A cross-section of the body of the airway
would be oblate ellipsoid in shape.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. William Lyle, Sept. 24, 2010; Photographed with four
other Guedel airways of varying sizes.
