title: A is for airway: alternative airway devices.
abstract: There are many alternative airway devices available on today's market. The type of device that your department uses will depend on your medical control, as well as local protocols and regulations. These devices all require practice, refresher training and on-going skill maintenance. Endotracheal intubation remains the gold standard for airway control; however, proper usage of an alternative airway device can allow patients to be ventilated and oxygenated, even if they cannot be immediately intubated.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt LifeFlight, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks