The Guedel airway, also known as an oropharyngeal airway, is a medical device used to maintain an open airway in patients who are unconscious or under general anesthesia. It was designed by Arthur Guedel in the early 20th century and is widely used in emergency medicine, anesthesia, and other healthcare settings.The primary use of the Guedel airway is to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway in unconscious or anesthetized patients. When a person becomes unconscious, the muscles in the throat and mouth may relax, causing the tongue to fall back and block the air passage. This can lead to airway obstruction and potentially life-threatening consequences like hypoxia (low oxygen levels).