title: Critically injured patients, inaccessible airways, and laryngeal mask airways.
abstract: Managing the airway of a critically injured trauma patient in the prehospital environment is challenging, especially when access to the patient's airway is limited as is often the case in vehicle entrapment incidents. This paper reports the use of the laryngeal mask airway as an adjunct to airway management when attempts using simple airway management techniques have failed to provide adequate oxygenation and ventilation and limited access to the patient precluded endotracheal intubation.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK. jonhulme@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hulme
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000075202:Contraindications; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011364:Professional Practice; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*