Paramedic orotracheal intubation: a feasibility study.
In order to determine whether paramedics could be effectively trained in the skill of orotracheal intubation, 11 paramedics were entered into a pilot study. All paramedics received the same limited didactic, cadaver, and in vivo clinical preparation. Over a six-month period, intubation was attempted on 33 patients in a variety of field situations. Intubation was successful in 28 cases with no reported complications. Subsequently, training has been expanded to a large number of paramedics, and the experience with intubation now includes a total of 128 patients and an overall success rate of 86%. It is concluded that paramedics can safely and effectively perform orotracheal intubation in a variety of adverse field conditions.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education*; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007440:Intubation / Q000193:education / Q000295:instrumentation; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000193:education; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged