TY - JOUR
T1 - Complication Rates for the Esophageal Obturator Airway and Endotracheal Tube in the Prehospital Setting
AU - Hankins, Daniel G.
AU - Carruthers, Nancy
AU - Frascone, R. J.
AU - Long, Linda Ann
AU - Campion, Brian C.
PY - 1993/1/1
Y1 - 1993/1/1
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the complication rates associated with the use of the endotracheal tube (ET) and the use of the esophageal obturator airway/ esophageal gastric tube airway (EOA/EGTA) during the treatment of patients with prehospital cardiac arrest. Methods: A descriptive, quasi-experimental study of 509 consecutive adults, cardiac arrest patients was conducted. Patients were examined prospectively for airway intervention type and complications. Some patients were examined at their final destinations (field, morgue, funeral home), while other patients were examined by EMS providers in the field when airway adjuncts were switched. Also, airways were evaluated for complications by emergency physicians at destination emergency departments. Results: The airway in use at the time of examination was the esophageal obturator airway (EOA) or esophageal gastric tube airway (EGTA) in 208 patients (40.1 %); the ET (endotracheal tube) in 232 patients (45.6 %); and an oral or nasopharyngeal airway in 47 patients (9.2%). Twenty-two patients (4.3%) had both an EOA/EGTA and an ET tube in place at the time of the examination. The survival rates were similar between the EOA/EGTA and the ET groups (28% and 32%, respectively). The complication rates overall also were similar, but the serious or potentially lethal complication rate was 3.3 times more common with the use of the EOA/EGTA than with the ET tube (8.7% versus 2.6%, respecrively). Conclusions: The complication rate for the EOA/EGTA is unacceptably high, and careful thought must be given to its continued use. Serious questions also arise concerning the complication rates associated with the use of the ET: is the complication rate of 2.5% acceptable or should other airway alternatives be considered for use in prehospital care?.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the complication rates associated with the use of the endotracheal tube (ET) and the use of the esophageal obturator airway/ esophageal gastric tube airway (EOA/EGTA) during the treatment of patients with prehospital cardiac arrest. Methods: A descriptive, quasi-experimental study of 509 consecutive adults, cardiac arrest patients was conducted. Patients were examined prospectively for airway intervention type and complications. Some patients were examined at their final destinations (field, morgue, funeral home), while other patients were examined by EMS providers in the field when airway adjuncts were switched. Also, airways were evaluated for complications by emergency physicians at destination emergency departments. Results: The airway in use at the time of examination was the esophageal obturator airway (EOA) or esophageal gastric tube airway (EGTA) in 208 patients (40.1 %); the ET (endotracheal tube) in 232 patients (45.6 %); and an oral or nasopharyngeal airway in 47 patients (9.2%). Twenty-two patients (4.3%) had both an EOA/EGTA and an ET tube in place at the time of the examination. The survival rates were similar between the EOA/EGTA and the ET groups (28% and 32%, respectively). The complication rates overall also were similar, but the serious or potentially lethal complication rate was 3.3 times more common with the use of the EOA/EGTA than with the ET tube (8.7% versus 2.6%, respecrively). Conclusions: The complication rate for the EOA/EGTA is unacceptably high, and careful thought must be given to its continued use. Serious questions also arise concerning the complication rates associated with the use of the ET: is the complication rate of 2.5% acceptable or should other airway alternatives be considered for use in prehospital care?.
KW - advanced life support
KW - airway basic life support cardiac arrest complications EMS EMS systems endotracheal intubation esophageal obturator airway esophageal gastric tube airway nasopharyngeal airway oropharyngeal airway prehospital training
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U2 - 10.1017/S1049023X00040176
DO - 10.1017/S1049023X00040176
M3 - Article
C2 - 10148602
AN - SCOPUS:0027587029
SN - 1049-023X
VL - 8
SP - 117
EP - 121
JO - Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
JF - Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
IS - 2
ER -