The objective of this study was to assess effectiveness of gum elastic bougie (GEB) in case of difficult intubation occurring in the prehospital settings. After manikin training to GEB handling, physicians were recommended to use GEB as first alternative technique in case of difficult intubation. Intubating conditions and details of patients requiring GEB-assisted laryngoscopy were recorded ove...

The C-MAC video laryngoscope substantially reduced poor glottic views and increased intubation success in ICU patients with at least one predictor for difficult intubation. However, all video-assisted and optical intubation devices have different view angles, thus producing different images with particular distortion, and even experts in 'old-fashioned' airway management need a substantial leve...

Nasotracheal intubation offers the head and neck surgeon more scope for surgical manoeuvre in operations of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and also the neck. Concern over the complications of using this route of intubation and lack of training may be limiting its use. A thorough knowledge of the anatomy, benefits of using nasal vasoconstrictors and attention to technique are prerequisites to mainta...

BACKGROUND Rapid and safe airway management has always been of paramount importance in successful management of critically ill and injured patients in the emergency department. The purpose of our study was to determine success rates of bag-mask ventilation and tracheal intubation performed by emergency medicine residents before and after completing their anesthesiology curriculum. METHODS A p...

BACKGROUND Endotracheal intubation of patients with massive regurgitation represents a challenge in emergency airway management. Gastric contents tend to block suction catheters, and few treatment alternatives exist. Based on a technique that was successfully applied in our district, we wanted to examine if endotracheal intubation would be easier and quicker to perform when the patient is turne...

The C-MAC videolaryngoscope is the first Macintosh-typed videolaryngoscope. Since the advent of its original version video Macintosh system in 1999, this device has been modified several times. A unique feature of C-MAC device is its ability to provide the 2 options of direct and video laryngoscopy with the same device. The available evidence shows that in patients with normal airways, C-MAC vi...

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of a learner-centered, simulation-based training developed to help medical students improve their procedural skills in intubation, arterial line placement, lumbar puncture, and central line insertion. Method The study participants were second and third year medical students. Anesthesiology residents provided the training and evaluated students' procedural...

BACKGROUND Pre-hospital laryngoscopic endotracheal intubation (ETI) is potentially a life-saving procedure but is a technique difficult to acquire. This study aimed to obtain a recommendation for the number of times ETI should be practiced by constructing the learning curve for endotracheal intubation by paramedics, as well as to report the change in the frequency of complications possibly asso...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Rapid sequence intubation is the method of choice for intubation of the emergency department patient. The purpose of the present review is to address several controversies pertaining to emergency department rapid sequence intubation of children. RECENT FINDINGS The topics covered in this review include the determination of the appropriate clinician to perform emergency depar...

BACKGROUND Establishing a definitive airway, defined as a tube placed in the trachea with cuff inflated below the vocal cords, is standard of care in pre-hospital airway management of the trauma patient. However, in this setting, and using manual in-line stabilisation of the neck, success rate of intubation by inexperience providers is suboptimal. The use of supraglottic airway devices that all...