Which airway technique may be used in emergency situations to assess airway patency?

The jaw-thrust maneuver is a key technique used to assess and ensure airway patency, especially in emergency situations. This technique is particularly effective in patients who may have a compromised airway due to conditions like trauma or altered level of consciousness. The jaw-thrust maneuver involves the manual manipulation of the jaw to lift it forward, which helps to displace the tongue away from the back of the throat. This action opens the airway and allows for better visualization and assessment of the airway's condition.

In an emergency setting, maintaining a patent airway is critical for effective ventilation and oxygenation, making this maneuver an essential skill for paramedics and other emergency responders. It is also advantageous because it can be performed without causing further injury to the cervical spine, making it safer in cases of suspected cervical spine injury.

Other options such as nasal cannula placement, cricoid pressure, and pharyngeal airway insertion do not primarily focus on the immediate assessment of airway patency in the same way. While these techniques have their own important uses in airway management, they do not provide the same direct assessment of the airway that the jaw-thrust maneuver does.