J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2009 Apr;20(2):149-154.

Equipment for Difficult Airways in 67 Korean Academic Emergency Departments

• Kim MS
• Choi HJ
• Im TH
• Chung HS
• Cho JH
• Kang KH
• Park JS
• Kang HG

Abstract

PURPOSE: In Korea, there has been no research about the devices that are used for dealing with difficult airways in emergency departments (ED). This study reports the results of the first research of this kind, assessing the equipment in Korean EDs that is used to manage patients with difficult airways.
METHODS
We surveyed 92 EDs via the Internet from October 2007 to March 2008. All respondents were asked if they have the following categories of devices in their EDs; alternative intubation devices, alternative rescue ventilation devices, and surgical airway devices. Alternative intubation devices were defined as devices that do not use a direct laryngoscope for tracheal tube insertion. Alternative rescue ventilation devices were defined as ventilation devices that do not use a face mask. Surgical airway devices were defined as devices that use a surgical technique for the placement of endotracheal tube.
RESULTS
We obtained data from 67 of the 92 (72.8%) EDs we contacted. Of those, 32 (47.8%) EDs have at least one alternative intubation device, 52 (77.6%) EDs have at least one alternative rescue ventilation device, and 59 (88.1%) EDs have at least one surgical airway device. A total of 30 (44.8%) EDs have equipment in all 3 categories, but 4 (6.0%) EDs do not have any equipment for dealing with difficult airways. The most common alternative intubation device was a flexible fiberscope (29.9%).
CONCLUSION
The possession of devices to deal with difficult airways varies across EDs. It seems that not all Korean EDs have enough devices for difficult airways.

Keyword

Intubation; Emergency treatment; Intratracheal; Laryngeal masks

MeSH Terms

Surveys and Questionnaires
Emergencies
Emergency Treatment
Humans
Internet
Intubation
Korea
Laryngeal Masks
Laryngoscopes
Masks
Ventilation