title: The Easytube for airway management: a systematic review of clinical and simulation studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endotracheal intubation is considered the criterion-standard technique for securing the airway. Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) represent a major advance in airway management and are recommended by the guidelines in difficult situations such as Advanced Life Support and "cannot ventilate-cannot intubate" scenarios. The Easytube (EzT) is an SAD introduced a decade ago but not included yet in the above guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE according to PRISMA guidelines available up to January 12, 2016.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected experimental and clinical evidence regarding EzT positioning performed by medial students, anesthesiologists, paramedics, or nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Manikins, cadavers, or patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  EzT positioning in both clinical and simulation studies, both under standard and under difficult scenarios.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time to insertion and time to ventilation, success rate and operator's assessment of the device, change in ventilatory parameters, and major complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen manuscripts were found: 6 prospective clinical studies and 9 conducted under experimental conditions (7 with a simulator and 2 on cadavers). The EzT inserted by both inexperienced and experienced personnel in most studies had high success rate, and it showed excellent results also during simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in difficult airway scenarios. The EzT had better ventilatory parameters as compared with the Combitube and showed great airway sealing capacity, comparable to the Combitube and to the laryngeal mask airway and superior to other SADs. EzT allowed the insertion of large nasogastric tubes and has only mild adverse effects like other SADs. No major complications were described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EzT appears to be a safe and a good alternative to established SADs. It may be considered among SADs by future guidelines on Advanced Life Support and "cannot ventilate-cannot intubate" scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, Intensive Care Directorate, St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom; School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, A.O.U. "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania 95100, Italy. Electronic address: filipposanfi@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
authors.affiliation: School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, A.O.U. "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Catania 95100, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarenza
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Philipps University Marburg, Baldinger Strasse, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Maybauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Philipps University Marburg, Baldinger Strasse, 35043 Marburg, Germany; University of Queensland, Critical Care Research Group and the Prince Charles Hospital at Brisbane, Rode Rd, Chermside 4032, QLD, Australia; Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.maybauer@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marc O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Maybauer
mesh_terms: D058109:Airway Management / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins
keywords: Anesthesia; Combitube; Endotracheal Intubation; EzT; Laryngeal Mask