Emergency intubation with the Combitube: comparison with the endotracheal airway.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Combitude as used by ICU nurses under medical supervision compared with endotracheal airway established by ICU physicians during CPR.


METHODS
Prospective study of ICU patients over a seven-month period.


METHODS
Medical ICU.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients suffering from cardiac arrest.


METHODS
Emergency intubation with either the Combitube by nurses or the endotracheal airway by physicians and subsequent mechanical ventilation.


RESULTS
Evaluation of blood gases after 20 minutes of mechanical ventilation. Intubation time was shorter for the Combitube (P < .001). Blood gases for each device showed comparable results; PaO2 was slightly higher during ventilation with the Combitube (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The Combitube as used by ICU nurses was as effective as establishment of the endotracheal airway by intensivists during CPR. The Combitube may be used whenever endotracheal intubation cannot be performed immediately.
Staudinger
T
T
Department of Medicine I, Intensive Care Unit, Vienna, Austria.
Brugger
S
S
Watschinger
B
B
Röggla
M
M
Dielacher
C
C
Löbl
T
T
Fink
D
D
Klauser
R
R
Frass
M
M
D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004630:Emergencies; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007440:Intubation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies