Use of the Airtraq device for airway management in the prehospital setting - a retrospective study
Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND:
Difficulties with prehospital intubations have encouraged the development of indirect laryngoscopy
techniques, facilitating laryngeal visualization. Airtraq® is a relatively new single-use indirect
laryngoscope. The Airtraq® has been evaluated in several prehospital mannequin intubation trials.
However, prehospital clinical experience with the device is limited.
METHODS:
A retrospective medical chart review was performed for patients who underwent prehospital
endotracheal intubation in the Stockholm County between January 2008 and December 2012. Both
anaesthesiologists and nurse anaesthetists performed prehospital intubations during the study
period. All Airtraq® intubations during this period were included in the analysis. The objective was to
estimate the success rate of Airtraq® used in a prehospital setting.
RESULTS:
During the 5-year period (January 2008- December 2012), 2453 tracheal intubations were performed.
Airtraq® was used in 28 cases (1%). The overall Airtraq® intubation success rate was 68%. Among
patients with anticipated or unexpected difficult airway (23/28) the Airtraq® success rate was 61%
(14/23). Among patients who underwent drug facilitated or rapid-sequence intubation protocols 4/5
(80%) were successfully intubated with Airtraq®.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, this retrospective study showed a higher Airtraq® success rate than previous
prospective prehospital trials. However, compared to other prehospital direct and indirect intubation
methods the Airtraq success rate is low. Further clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the role of
Airtraq® in the prehospital airway management.