Alternatives to Mac and Miller for managing the difficult airway.
EMS providers should be familiar with and well practiced in a variety of available intubation techniques, so that when an airway problem occurs, it can be managed. However, with the rapid advancements in airway management technology, many EMS providers have not had an opportunity to use the equipment in real-patient situations. Acquiring the equipment is often not the problem; learning to use it and retaining these skills may be the long-term issues. Participating in specialized airway courses and workshops is an excellent means of introducing the manual skills required to implement airway devices, but practice on manikins does not accurately simulate "real" patient situations and therefore is often not directly applicable. EMS organizations and educational facilities must provide learning opportunities to implement new airway technologies and skills.
Hatlestad
Dan
D
Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue, Morrison, CO, USA. prioritymed@mindspring.com
D003162:Competency-Based Education; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D007830:Larynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014474:Unconsciousness; D014481:United States