A device (700, 800) for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a mask portion (702, 802); and an airway tube (704, 804) connected to or formed with the mask portion (702, 802) for passing gas to the larynx when the mask portion (702, 802) is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; wherein the device includes one or more openings (724, 824) at or near a distal end of the mask portion (702, 802), the one or more openings(724, 824) being associated with a pair of longitudinally extending passageways or cavities (716, 718, 816, 818) that allow fluid communication between the oesophagus and the throat region when the mask portion is inserted into the patient and one or more transversely extending openings (723, 823) facilitating fluid communication between the pair of passageways or cavities (716, 718, 816, 818), and the mask portion (702, 802) has a soft, flexible portion (706, 806) positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion (702, 802), the soft flexible portion (706, 806) extending from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion (706, 806), the soft, flexible portion having a first portion that extends in a ventral direction, a second portion that extends inwardly from the first portion and a third portion that extends in a dorsal direction from the second portion, the soft, flexible portion being in fluid communication with the airway tube, the soft flexible portion defining or including an opening (709, 809) through which ventilation gases from the airway tube exit the mask portion, a part (707, 807) that defines or includes the opening (709, 809) through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion being defined by a dorsal edge of the third portion. a mask portion (702, 802); and an airway tube (704, 804) connected to or formed with the mask portion (702, 802) for passing gas to the larynx when the mask portion (702, 802) is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; wherein the device includes one or more openings (724, 824) at or near a distal end of the mask portion (702, 802), the one or more openings(724, 824) being associated with a pair of longitudinally extending passageways or cavities (716, 718, 816, 818) that allow fluid communication between the oesophagus and the throat region when the mask portion is inserted into the patient and one or more transversely extending openings (723, 823) facilitating fluid communication between the pair of passageways or cavities (716, 718, 816, 818), and the mask portion (702, 802) has a soft, flexible portion (706, 806) positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion (702, 802), the soft flexible portion (706, 806) extending from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion (706, 806), the soft, flexible portion having a first portion that extends in a ventral direction, a second portion that extends inwardly from the first portion and a third portion that extends in a dorsal direction from the second portion, the soft, flexible portion being in fluid communication with the airway tube, the soft flexible portion defining or including an opening (709, 809) through which ventilation gases from the airway tube exit the mask portion, a part (707, 807) that defines or includes the opening (709, 809) through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion being defined by a dorsal edge of the third portion.