Nissen pillow

A method for aligning a patient's oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheal axes, the method comprising:

• providing a pillow including a plurality of inflatable sections for supporting the patient's upper back, shoulders, neck and head;
• providing anchoring means adjacent at least one of said plurality of inflatable sections for anchoring said pillow to a surface;
• providing an air system in fluid connection with said plurality of inflatable sections, said air system capable of inflating and deflating said plurality of inflatable sections;
• partially inflating said plurality of inflatable sections;
• positioning the patient's upper back, shoulders, neck and head on said inflatable sections;
• positioning the patient's torso on said anchoring means;
• inflating and deflating said inflatable sections independently of one another;
• and
• wherein said inflating and deflating said inflatable sections assists in aligning a pinna of an ear and a sternum of the patient in the same horizontal plane.