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Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2012;23(5): 571-577. |
| Validation of the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope as a Prehospital Intubation Device by Korean Level 1 Emergency Medical Technicians; A Simulation Study Using an Airway Training Manikin |
| Won Suk Jung, Yong Jin Park, Sun Pyo Kim, Seong Jung Kim, Soo Hyung Cho, Nam Soo Cho, Kyeong Hoon Seon |
| Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. chosooh@chosun.ac.kr |
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| ABSTRACT |
PURPOSE:
Tracheal intubation in the pre-hospital setting may be lifesaving in severely ill and injured patients. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether use of the video laryngoscope, when used by Korean level 1 emergency medical technicians, resulted in faster or more secure facilitation of tracheal intubation, compared with the conventional laryngoscope with the immobilized cervical spine lying on the ground.
METHODS:
Thirty two level 1 EMTs working as 119 rescuers performed tracheal intubation on a manikin using the Macintosh laryngoscope (McL) and the Pentax-AWS(R) airwayscope (AWS) "on-the-bed" and "on-the-ground" in simulations with or without cervical spine immobilization.
We compared intubation time, dental injury, and visual analog scale for both types of laryngoscope.
RESULTS:
In the McL trial, four participants failed on the bed, and 11 failed on the ground with cervical immobilization. In the AWS trial, all participants successfully secured the airway regardless of cervical spine immobilization both on the bed and on the ground. With the AWS, intubation time was not lengthened due to cervical spine immobilization either on the bed or on the ground. The AWS score was better than the McL on the visual analog scale in ease of handling the laryngoscope both on the bed and on the ground. And use of the AWS resulted in the lowest number of dental compressions.
CONCLUSION:
We conclude that the AWS is an effective and safe device for use in pre-hospital intubation with cervical spine immobilization, not only on the bed but also on the ground, when used by Korean level 1 EMTs. However, conduct of further studies is required in order to validate the clinical relevance of these findings. |
| Key words:
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Tracheal intubation, Manikin, Video laryngoscope |
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