Naslov
Airway management practices by croatian anesthesiologists: a comparison to European Union countries and United States

Autori
Rakic, Mladen ; Peric, Mladen ; Sustic, Alan ; Bojanic, Katarina ; Bourke, D. ; Kovac, Antony ; Sprung, Juraj

Izvornik
Acta anaesthesiologica italica & Anaesthesia and intensive care in Italy (1124-8882) 57 (2006); 258-273

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, stručni

Ključne riječi
Airway devices: laryngeal mask; fiberoptic intubation; Difficult airway management

Sažetak
Objective: The goal of our survey was to identify the current status of difficult airway management in Croatia, and to establish a basis for correction of deficiencies. We also compare Croatian anesthesiologists’ practices to the same practices in Europe and United States. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed among Croatian anesthesiologists at three universities during two anesthesia meetings. An individual anesthesiologist attending these meetings was allowed to participate only once in this survey. Results: 150 completed forms were returned, accounting for 71% of the 212 Croatian university anesthesiologists. Seventy-seven (51%) respondents had completed a difficult airway course, 47% had completed an Advanced Cardiac Life Support course, and 27% an Advanced Trauma Life Support course. The most commonly used indicators for predicting a difficult intubation were: limited mouth opening (91%), history of prior failed intubation (86%), decreased range of head and neck movement (81%), and high Mallampati score (76%). One- hundred-twenty-five respondents (83%) indicated they rarely had a failed intubation using a conventional laryngoscope. Eighty-one respondents (54%) performed awake intubations for an anticipated difficult airway. For the anticipated difficult intubation, the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope was used by 29% respondents. In unantici-attrapated difficult airway situations the technique of choice was the laryngeal mask airway (27%). The American Society of Anesthesiologists difficult airway algorithm was used by 42% of Croatian anesthesiologists. Conclusion: Croatian anesthesiologist lack experience in using the fiberoptic scope and other advanced difficult airway tools. There is a need for more stringent adherence to well established guidelines for difficult airway management.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

POVEZANOST RADA