What is a potential complication of inserting an oropharyngeal airway that is too small?

Inserting an oropharyngeal airway that is too small can indeed lead to pushing the base of the tongue back. When the airway is not adequately sized to accommodate the anatomy of the patient, it may not provide the necessary support to keep the tongue in a forward position. As a result, the base of the tongue can fall back and potentially obstruct the airway, leading to inadequate ventilation. This complication underscores the importance of selecting the right size airway to ensure effective and safe airway management.

The other options address potential airway complications, but they stem from different issues related to the use of oropharyngeal airways. For example, an airway that is too small may not directly obstruct but can fail to prevent the tongue from occluding the airway, which is a significant concern during resuscitation efforts.