Availability and organization of difficult airway equipment in Swedish hospitals: A national survey of anaesthesiologists

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 1313-1320
Author(s):  
Martin F. Bjurström ◽  
Karolina Persson ◽  
Louise W. Sturesson
Keyword(s):  
Difficult Airway ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Airway Equipment

scholarly journals The Availability of Advanced Airway Equipment and Experience with Videolaryngoscopy in the UK: Two UK Surveys

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Gill ◽  
Audrey S. Y. Jeffrey ◽  
Alistair F. McNarry ◽  
Geoffrey H. C. Liew
Keyword(s):  
Difficult Airway ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Fibreoptic Intubation ◽  
Skill Levels ◽  
Teaching Competence ◽  
Equipment Availability ◽  
Fibreoptic Laryngoscopy ◽  
Advanced Airway ◽  
Airway Equipment ◽  
The Uk

Fibreoptic intubation, high frequency jet ventilation, and videolaryngoscopy form part of the Royal College of Anaesthetists compulsory higher airway training module. Curriculum delivery requires equipment availability and competent trainers. We sought to establish (1) availability of advanced airway equipment in UK hospitals (Survey I) and (2) if those interested in airway management (Difficult Airway Society (DAS) members) had access to videolaryngoscopes, their basic skill levels and teaching competence with these devices and if they believed that videolaryngoscopy was replacing conventional or fibreoptic laryngoscopy (Survey II). Data was obtained from 212 hospitals (73.1%) and 554 DAS members (27.6%). Most hospitals (202, 99%) owned a fiberscope, 119 (57.5%) had a videolaryngoscope, yet only 62 (29.5%) had high frequency jet ventilators. DAS members had variable access to videolaryngoscopes with Airtraq 319 (59.6%) and Glidescope 176 (32.9%) being the most common. More DAS members were happy to teach or use videolaryngoscopes in a difficult airway than those who had used them more than ten times. The majority rated Macintosh laryngoscopy as the most important airway skill. Members rated fibreoptic intubation and videolaryngoscopy skills equally. Our surveys demonstrate widespread availability of fibreoptic scopes, limited availability of videolaryngoscopes, and limited numbers of experienced videolaryngoscope tutors.

scholarly journals Awareness of difficult airway equipment on the ICU

Critical Care ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Wozniak ◽  
A Iyer
Keyword(s):  
Difficult Airway ◽  
Airway Equipment

Management of the difficult airway

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary C. Mushambi ◽  
Rajesh Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Pregnant Woman ◽  
Difficult Airway ◽  
Cricoid Pressure ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
General Anaesthetic ◽  
Failed Intubation ◽  
Airway Equipment

Failed or difficult intubation is still a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. The management of the airway in the pregnant patient requires careful consideration of anatomical and physiological changes, training issues, and situational factors. Despite significant improvements in monitoring and airway equipment, and a reduction in anaesthetic-related maternal mortality, the incidence of failed intubation in the pregnant woman in many units has remained between 1/250 and 1/300. This may result from many factors such as the reduction of the number of caesarean deliveries performed under general anaesthesia which has resulted in limited opportunities to teach airway skills in obstetrics, the increased incidence of obesity, and the rise in maternal age and associated co-morbidities. Improved training and careful planning and performance of a general anaesthetic (i.e. reducing the risk of aspiration; optimum pre-oxygenation, patient positioning, and application of cricoid pressure; and availability of appropriate airway equipment) have the potential to reduce airway-related morbidity and mortality in the pregnant woman. Simple bedside tests such as Mallampati scoring, thyromental distance, neck movement, and ability to protrude the mandible may help to predict a potential difficult airway, particularly when used in combination. Management of a predicted difficult airway requires early referral to the anaesthetists, formulation of an airway management strategy, and involvement of the multidisciplinary team in decision-making. Fibreoptic equipment and skills should be readily available when required. Management of the unpredicted difficult airway should make maintenance of maternal and fetal oxygenation the primary goal. Decision-making during a failed intubation on whether to proceed or wake the patient should involve the obstetrician and ideally be planned in advance. The periods during extubation and recovery are high risk and require preparation and planning in advance.

scholarly journals Airway management in critically sick in intensive care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Malhotra ◽  
Komal Gandhi
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Airway Management ◽  
Difficult Airway ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Operation Theatre ◽  
Physiological Reserve ◽  
Airway Equipment ◽  
One Airway ◽  
Airway Devices

In critically ill patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), patency of airway and managementof difficult airway are of utmost importance. The incidence of difficult intubation maybe 10% to 22% depending on the various factors in patient as well as availability ofequipment facilities. As compared to the regular surgery in operation theatre, themanagement of airway in critically ill patients is considerably different and morechallenging. The physiological reserve and co-morbidities are more common in criticallyill patients. In ICU, recent techniques of airway management must be considered andpracticed, such as videolaryngoscope (VLS), fiberoptic bronchoscope and supraglotticdevices. The success for airway management would be greater if airway expert, therequired devices and an adequate protocol are available. The outcome of managingairway would be enhanced if best use of available airway devices in a particular hospitalsetup since every instrument may not be available. The standard guidelines for difficultairway and the protocol of individual hospital may reduce the complications; hencemust be followed. The availability of difficult airway cart and capnograph is a must. Theindications and timing of surgical airway must be clear to the airway team. The Trainingcourses for the staff in ICU should be held regularly to apprise them of advancementin airway management. The best use of available airway equipment should be made incritically ill patients. At least, one airway expert must be accessible in ICU at any giventime. Received: 12 Sep 2018Reviewed: 5 Oct 2018Accepted: 10 Oct 2018 Citation: Malhotra SK, Gandhi K. Airway management in critically sick in intensive care. Anaesth Pain & Intensive Care 2018;22 Suppl 1:S21-S28

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