Scientific article
Comment
OA Policy
English

The Importance of Acknowledging an Intermediate Category of Airway Management Devices in the Prehospital Setting

Published inHealthcare, vol. 10, no. 5, 961
Publication date2022-05-23
First online date2022-05-23
Abstract

Prehospital airway devices are often classified as either basic or advanced, with this latter category including both supraglottic airway (SGA) devices and instruments designed to perform endotracheal intubation (ETI). Therefore, many authors analyze the impact of SGA and ETI devices jointly. There are however fundamental differences between these instruments. Indeed, adequate airway protection can only be achieved through ETI, and SGA devices all have relatively low leak pressures which might compromise both oxygenation and ventilation when lung compliance is decreased. In addition, there is increasing evidence that SGA devices reduce carotid blood flow in case of cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, SGA devices might be particularly useful in the prehospital setting where many providers are not experienced enough to safely perform ETI. Compared to basic airway management (bag-valve-mask) devices, SGA devices enable better oxygenation, decrease the odds of aspiration, and allow for more reliable capnometric measurement by virtue of their enhanced airtightness. For all these reasons, we strongly believe that SGA devices should be categorized as “intermediate airway management devices” and be systematically analyzed separately from devices designed to perform ETI.

Keywords
  • Clinical competence
  • Emergency medical services
  • Endotracheal intubation
  • I-gel
  • Laryngeal mask airway
  • Out-of-hospital
  • Prehospital airway management
  • Supgraglottic devices
Citation (ISO format)
SUPPAN, Laurent et al. The Importance of Acknowledging an Intermediate Category of Airway Management Devices in the Prehospital Setting. In: Healthcare, 2022, vol. 10, n° 5, p. 961. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10050961
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/5/961
Journal ISSN2227-9032
187views
115downloads

Technical informations

Creation19/06/2022 10:25:00
First validation19/06/2022 10:25:00
Update16/03/2023 08:54:33
Status update16/03/2023 08:54:33
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