Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-995ml Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T17:44:48.343Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Airway management by physicians wearing anti-chemical warfare gear: comparison between laryngeal mask airway and endotracheal intubation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 August 2006

Zeev Goldik
Affiliation:
Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Haifa, Israel The Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
Jacob Bornstein
Affiliation:
The Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
Arieh Eden
Affiliation:
Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Haifa, Israel The Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
Ron Ben-Abraham
Affiliation:
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Get access

Abstract

Background and objective: To evaluate the ease with which successful insertion of a laryngeal mask airway can be performed in comparison with endotracheal intubation by medical personnel wearing chemical protective equipment.

Methods: Anaesthetists and non-anaesthetists (each n = 20) participated in the prospective comparative trial in an animal laboratory. The time and success rates of laryngeal mask airway vs. endotracheal tube insertions were measured as performed on anaesthetized monkeys.

Results: The results showed that the laryngeal mask airway was inserted more rapidly than the endotracheal tube by both groups (3.6 s and 28.6 s, P < 0.0001). Failed intubation occurred in 35% (anaesthetists) vs. 55% (non-anaesthetists) (P = 0.17).

Conclusions: In view of the 100% success rate of insertion even in unfavourable conditions, the possible role of the laryngeal mask airway in the scenario of a toxic mass casualty event should be considered.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
2002 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)