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KMID : 0385920090200020149
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Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2009 Volume.20 No. 2 p.149 ~ p.154
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Equipment for Difficult Airways in 67 Korean Academic Emergency Departments
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Kang Hyung-Goo
Park Jun-Suk
Kang Gu-Hyun
Cho Jun-Ho
Chung Hyun-Soo
Lim Tae-Ho
Choi Hyuk-Joong
Kim Min-Soo
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Abstract
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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.
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KEYWORD
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Intubation, Emergency treatment, Intratracheal, Laryngeal masks
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