Chapter 30 - Pre-hospital and Trauma Airway Management

Summary

Pre-hospital airway management is an essential skill for every pre-hospital clinician and should be performed to the same standards as would be expected in the emergency department. This chapter recommends tailored pre-hospital airway management in terms of clinical care delivered to the patient, skills of the clinician and the infrastructure of emergency medical system to achieve this. The importance of having a standardised, well-rehearsed approach, using aids to reduce cognitive load, articulating a clear airway management plan and having a structured way of handling airway management difficulties is highlighted. The concept of the physiologically difficult airway is discussed and the significance of excellent pre-oxygenation, peroxygenation, first-pass success and post-intubation care is discussed. Backup equipment in the form of second generation supraglottic airway devices, a videolaryngoscope with both standard and hyperangulated blades and equipment for an emergency front of neck airway should be available when advanced pre-hospital airway management is provided. When delivering airway management to trauma patients, an awareness of potential anatomical difficulties combined with careful management of physiological derangement is necessary to deliver safe, high quality care.