A comparison of the PAxpress and face mask plus Guedel airway by inexperienced personnel after mannequin-only training.
The PAxpress (PAX) is a new extraglottic airway device consisting of an anatomically curved tube, an inflatable circular cuff in the midsection, a noninflatable gilled conical cuff at the distal end, and an anterior-facing, rectangular hooded vent between the two cuffs. We compared the ability of nurses with no previous airway management experience to ventilate the lungs of 45 ASA physical status I and II anesthetized, paralyzed patients using either the PAX or face mask and Guedel airway (FM/GA) after mannequin-only training. Nurses were asked to ventilate the patient to an expired target tidal volume of 7 mL/kg and then to the maximum tidal volume achievable. The FM/GA was used first and the then the PAX. The target tidal volume was achieved in all patients with both devices. There were no differences in the time taken (PAX, 41 +/- 15 s; FM/GA, 39 +/- 25 s) or the number of insertion attempts to achieve the target tidal volume. There were no differences in the frequency of esophageal leaks at the target (PAX, 9%; FM/GA, 4%) and maximum tidal volume (PAX, 51%; FM/GA, 49%). The maximal tidal volume (1261 +/- 306 versus 958 +/- 220 mL; P < 0.0001) and peak airway pressure (37 +/- 5 versus 28 +/- 6 cm H(2)O; P < 0.0001) was larger for the PAX, but blood was detected more frequently (22% versus 0%; P = 0.001). We conclude that ventilation to a target tidal volume of 7 mL/kg in anesthetized, paralyzed adults is equally successful for the PAX and FM/GA by inexperienced nurses after mannequin-only training. However, the maximal tidal volume and peak airway pressure is larger and airway trauma more common with the PAX.


CONCLUSIONS
Ventilation to a target tidal volume of 7 mL/kg in anesthetized, paralyzed adults is equally successful for the PAxpress (PAX) and Face Mask/Guedel Airway by inexperienced nurses after mannequin-only training. However, the maximal tidal volume and peak airway pressure is larger and airway trauma more common with the PAX.
Dimitriou
V
V
*Department of Anaesthesia, University of Thrace; †Department of Anaesthesia, Sotiria Hospital, Greece; and ‡Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Queensland and James Cook University, Cairns Base Hospital, Australia.
Voyagis
G S
GS
Iatrou
C
C
Brimacombe
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology