 Although it offers the greatest degree of protection against regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration , tracheal intubation is not the only means to maintain a patent airway . Alternative techniques for airway management and delivery of oxygen , volatile anesthetics or other breathing gases include the laryngeal mask airway , i @-@ gel , cuffed oropharyngeal airway , continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP mask ) , nasal <unk> mask , simple face mask , and nasal cannula . 
