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PP23  Soiled airway tracheal intubation and the effectiveness of decontamination by north east paramedics: a randomised controlled manikin study. The satiated2 study
  1. Graham McClelland1,
  2. Richard Pilbery2,
  3. Sarah Hepburn1
  1. 1North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, UK
  2. 2Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, UK

Abstract

Background Vomiting and regurgitation are commonly encountered in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but traditional paramedic suctioning techniques may be insufficient to manage severely soiled airways.

A technique called Suction Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination (SALAD) has been developed to help clinicians manage these difficult airways. The only UK SALAD study (SATIATED) reported improved paramedic first-pass intubation success rate. This study has now been replicated in a different ambulance service.

The primary research question was: Does paramedic first-pass intubation rate in North East Ambulance Service improve following training in SALAD? The secondary research question was: Does training in SALAD affect the time taken to intubate by paramedics?

Methods A randomised controlled trial of SALAD was conducted using a modified airway manikin capable of vomiting to simulate a soiled airway. The intervention comprised SALAD training and the introduction of the DuCanto catheter for post-training attempts. Participants were randomised into two groups: A01A02B01 who made two pre-training intubation attempts and one post-training attempt, and A11B11B12, who made one pre-training and two post-training attempts. Data were collected on length of service, success rates, timings and techniques used.

Results Paramedics (n=102 participants, n=99 completed the study) were recruited between August and December 2019. First-pass intubation success rates on the second attempts (A02versus B11) were 86% and 96% respectively; a non-significant improvement of 10% (95% CI 1–21%, p=0.09). Both groups intubated faster on third attempts compared to first attempts. A01 to B01 mean improvement 5 (SD 14) seconds, A11 to B12 mean improvement 9 (SD 15) seconds. There was no significant difference in improvement between groups (mean difference -4 seconds, 95% CI -11–3 seconds, p=0.22).

Conclusions North East Ambulance Service paramedics demonstrated improved first-pass intubation success rates in a simulated soiled airway following SALAD training and improved time to intubation. This study supports the findings of the SATIATED study.

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