CR#35 The Airtraq laryngoscope for emergency tracheal intubation

American Journal of Emergency Medicine 19th June 2010
Ruggero M. Corso MD Emanuele Piraccini MD Vanni Agnoletti MD Giorgio Gambale MD Department Emergency Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Section “G.B. Morgagni-Pierantoni” Hospital, Italy

The 2005 American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Guidelines emphasize minimizing the interruption of chest compression to maximize coronary and
cerebral perfusion pressure. In an emergency situation, airway management is often performed by a less experienced physician, in sub-optimal conditions. Introduction of video laryngoscopes might have benefits in these situations.
The Airtraq enables inexperienced operators to obtain an optimal view for tracheal intubation without requiring the alignment of the oral, pharyngeal, and tracheal axes, and it reduces the time to secure the airway and the incidence of failed tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists.
The authors report a case of a 61-year-old man presented to their Medical Emergency Team for inhospital cardiac arrest in radiology suite

In their opinion, the Airtraq is useful for emergency endotracheal intubation especially for those who are less experienced in direct laryngoscopy. During cardiac arrest and consequent CPR, it might have a further advantage because it could allow a definitive airway without the interruption of chest compression.

  Download CR#35