Airway management by physicians wearing anti-chemical warfare gear: comparison between laryngeal mask airway and endotracheal intubation.
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.
Goldik
Zeev
Z
Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, and The Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel. goldikzeev@clalit.org.il
Bornstein
Jacob
J
Eden
Arieh
A
Ben-Abraham
Ron
R
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D002618:Chemical Warfare; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D011481:Protective Clothing