A prospective study of physician pre-hospital anaesthesia in trauma patients: the rate of oesophageal intubation, gross airway contamination and the value of the ‘quick look’ airway assessment

Methods Patients requiring pre-hospital intubation in a physician– led pre-hospital trauma service over 16 months were included. Intubation success rate, misplaced tracheal tube rate, Cormack and Lehane grade and the presence and nature of gross airway contamination were recorded at laryngoscopy. Tube placement was verified with carbon dioxide detection and chest x-ray. After visual assessment physicians stated whether laryngoscopy was expected to be a straightforward or ‘difficult’. The assessment was compared to subsequent laryngoscopy grade.