The availability of alternative devices for the management of the difficult airway in public emergency centres in the Western Cape
Date
2015-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Introduction: The failed or difficult airway is a rare, but life-threatening situation. Alternative airway devices to direct laryngoscopy are essential aids to manage these
scenarios successfully. The aim of this study was to determine which alternative airway devices are currently available in public emergency centres in the Western Cape
Province, South Africa.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 15 emergency centres. Data regarding the availability of different classes of alternative airway devices were documented
on a standardised data collection sheet by a single investigator via direct observation. Incomplete or non-functional equipment was classified as unavailable.
Summary statistics were used to describe the data.
Results: Twenty-six different types of alternative airway devices were documented. Three centres (20%) had no alternative airway device. Five centres (33.3%) stocked
only one device, three centres (20%) had two devices and four centres (26.7%) had more than two devices. Most centres (n = 12, 80%) stocked supraglottic airways
(only one centre (6.7%) had paediatric sizes). Tracheal tube introducers were available in five centres (33.3%). Four centres (26.7%) had video-laryngoscopes, but none
had optical laryngoscopes. Retroglottic devices and needle cricothyroidotomy equipment were available in two centres (13.3%). Although surgical cricothyroidotomy
equipment was available, the equipment was widely dispersed and only three centres (20%) had pre-packed sets available. None of the specialised paediatric centres had
needle cricothyroidotomy equipment readily available.
Discussion: The study demonstrated that Western Cape public emergency centres are currently inadequately stocked with regard to alternative airway devices. A guideline
regarding the procurement and implementation of these devices is needed.
Description
CITATION: Jooste, W.J.L. & Van Hoving, D.J. 2015. The availability of alternative devices for the management of the difficult airway in public emergency centres in the Western Cape. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 5(1):19-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2014.11.001.
The original publication is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/african-journal-of-emergency-medicine
The thesis is available at http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102550
The original publication is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/african-journal-of-emergency-medicine
The thesis is available at http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102550
Keywords
airways; public emergency centres; western cape; difficult airways
Citation
Jooste, W.J.L. & Van Hoving, D.J. 2015. The availability of alternative devices for the management of the difficult airway in public emergency centres in the Western Cape. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 5(1):19-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2014.11.001.