What is a common cause of an obstructed airway in an unconscious patient?

In an unconscious patient, the most common cause of obstructed airways is the tongue falling back into the throat. When a person is unconscious, their muscle tone decreases significantly, including the muscles that help keep the airway open. As a result, the tongue can relax and fall backward, obstructing the airway. This is particularly hazardous because it can completely block airflow, leading to hypoxia and requiring immediate intervention to clear the airway.

While foreign objects and swelling of the throat can also lead to obstruction, they are less common in the unconscious patient population compared to the issue of the tongue. Alcohol consumption can contribute to a decreased level of consciousness, which may result in the tongue obstruction, but it is not the direct cause of the airway obstruction itself. The immediate concern in emergency situations involving unconscious individuals is to address the tongue's position and maintain a patent airway.