title: An algorithmic approach to prehospital airway management.
abstract: Airway management, including endotracheal intubation, is considered one of the most important aspects of prehospital medical care. This concept paper proposes a systematic algorithm for performing prehospital airway management. The algorithm may be valuable as a tool for ensuring patient safety and reducing errors as well as for training rescuers in airway management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. wanghe@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Henry E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Douglas F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kupas
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pinchalk
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gluckman
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hostler
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000465:Algorithms; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors