Final answer:
The King airway is an emergency airway device indicated for situations where endotracheal intubation is not possible or contraindicated. It is used when rapid airway management is necessary, such as in cardiac arrest, or by providers with limited intubation skills or equipment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The King airway, or King LT, is a type of supraglottic airway device that is used in emergency situations when conventional endotracheal intubation is either not possible or contraindicated. Its placement is less complex than that of an endotracheal tube and does not require visualization of the vocal cords. It is inserted blindly into the esophagus, and its ventilation ports are designed to sit above the glottis, allowing for ventilation of the lungs.
King tube placement is indicated in situations where there is a need for airway management, such as in cardiac arrest, when advanced airway placement is needed quickly, or when an endotracheal intubation attempt has failed or is not feasible due to the patient’s condition or the provider's level of experience. Also, it is a preferred option when the personnel present do not have the skills to perform endotracheal intubation or when there is limited equipment available. Furthermore, it is used in pre-hospital settings by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or in the hospital by medical professionals when rapid airway control is required.