BACKGROUND Tracheal intubation in the prone position has previously been reported only as a necessity in a very few emergency situations. It emerged at our clinic as a routine after invention of a test aimed at pinpointing a painful motion segment in patients with chronic low back pain who were candidates for lumbar fusion operation. MATERIAL AND METHODS During a 6-year period 247 consecutive...

BACKGROUND There are few scientific reports documenting the effects of simulation training on learning. Issues of scientific validity challenge investigators who measure such outcomes. We perceived a failure of residents to change their technical management of oesophageal intubation after simulation training and sought clarification of this observation. METHODS Twenty-one residents were rando...

BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital airway management is a critical skill, demanding expert knowledge and experience. The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) is a ventilatory and intubating device which may be of value in this arena. We evaluated the ILMA for out-of-hospital management of the difficult airway. METHODS Twenty-one anaesthesia-trained emergency physicians (EPs) completed a training p...

BACKGROUND Rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII) is a medical procedure involving a prompt induction of general anesthesia by using cricoid pressure that prevents regurgitation of gastric contents. The factors affecting RSII are prophylaxis for aspiration, preoxygenation, drug and equipment preparation for RSII, ventilation after induction till intubation and patient condition. We some...

BACKGROUND Simulation-based training provides a low-stress learning environment where real-life emergencies can be practiced. Simulation can improve surgical education and patient care in crisis situations through a team approach emphasizing interpersonal and communication skills. OBJECTIVE This study assessed the effects of simulation-based training in the context of trauma resuscitation in ...

BACKGROUND Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at high risk for airway obstruction and hypoxia at the accident scene, and routine prehospital endotracheal intubation has been widely advocated. However, the effects on outcome are unclear. We therefore aim to determine effects of prehospital intubation on mortality and hypothesize that such effects may depend on the emergency me...

BACKGROUND Pre-hospital basic airway interventions can be ineffective at providing adequate oxygenation and ventilation in some severely ill or injured patients, and advanced airway interventions are then required. Controversy exists regarding the level of provider required to perform successful pre-hospital intubation. A previous meta-analysis reported pre-hospital intubation success rates of ...

The use of paralytic medications in the performance of RSI intubation is a high risk intervention used by many HEMS crews. There is no margin for error in RSI intubation as the results can be fatal. Operating room access for airway management training has become more difficult, and is not representative of the environment in which HEMS crews typically function. LifeEvac of Virginia designed and...

INTRODUCTION Airway management is an important component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Recent guidelines recommend keeping any interruptions of chest compressions as short as possible and not lasting more than 10 seconds. Endotracheal intubation seems to be the ideal method for establishing a secure airway by experienced providers, but emergency medical technicians (EMT) often lack tr...