Prehospital Use of the Esophageal Tracheal Combitube Supraglottic Airway Device: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: In the province of Quebec (Canada), paramedics use the esophageal tracheal Combitube (ETC) for prehospital airway management. OBJECTIVES: Our main objective was to determine the proportion of patients with successful ventilation achieved after ETC use. Our secondary aim was to determine the number of ETC insertion attempts required to ventilate the patient. METHOD: This is a retrospective cohort study. All patients who had ≥1 attempt to insert an ETC during prehospital care between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 were included. Prehospital and in-hospital data were extracted. Successful ventilation was defined as thorax elevation, lung sounds on chest auscultation, or positive end-tidal capnography after ETC insertion. RESULTS: A total of 580 emergency medical services interventions (99.3% cardiac arrests) were included. Most patients were men (62.5%) with a mean age 67.0 years (SD 17.6 years), and 35 (13.1%) of the 298 patients transported to emergency department survived to hospital discharge. Sufficient information to determine whether ventilation was successful or not was available for 515 interventions. Ventilation was achieved during 427 (82.7%) of these interventions. The number of ETC insertion attempts was available for 349 of the 427 successful ETC use. Overall, the first insertion resulted in successful ventilation during 294 interventions for an overall proportion of first-pass success ranging between 57.1% and 72.1%. CONCLUSION: Proportions of successful ventilation and ETC first-pass success are lower than those reported in the literature with supraglottic airway devices. The reasons explaining these lower rates and their impact on patient-centered outcomes need to be studied.

Comparison of combitube, easy tube and tracheal tube for general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The Combitube(®) and EasyTube™ enable effective ventilation whether placed in the trachea or esophagus and can be used in prehospital settings, as well as in "Cannot Ventilate Cannot Intubate" situations in the operating room. Whether they can be continued to provide general anesthesia, if required, is not established. Thus the efficacy of Combitube and EasyTube was evaluated and compared with the tracheal tube for general anesthesia using controlled ventilation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Combitube, EasyTube and tracheal tubes were used in 30 patients each to secure the airway in a randomized controlled manner. Ventilatory parameters were measured along with hemodynamic variables, and characteristics related to device placement. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the various ventilatory parameters including minute ventilation requirement to maintain eucapnia amongst the three groups at any time point. There was no hypoxia or hypercarbia in any patient at any time. Placement of EasyTube was more difficult (P = 0.01) as compared with both Combitube and tracheal tube. EasyTube and Combitube resulted in higher incidence of minor trauma than with a tracheal tube (P = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Combitube and EasyTube may be continued for general anesthesia in patients undergoing elective nonlaparoscopic surgeries of moderate duration, if placed for airway maintenance. Given the secondary observations regarding placement characteristics of the airway devices, it, however cannot be concluded that the devices are a substitute for endotracheal tube for airway maintenance per se, unless specifically indicated.

Ventilation with the esophageal-tracheal Combitube during general anaesthesia: assessing complications in 540 patients.

Background: The esophageal-tracheal Combitube (ETC) was developed for the management of difficult airways but can also be used for general anaesthesia. Methods: This clinical study collected data from patients undergoing anaesthesia with the ETC in order to assess the rate of complications. Results: Five hundred forty patients were ventilated with the ETC. In 94.8% (512/540), insertion was performed for the first time by the respective physician. The following minor complications were observed: 38.7% sore throat, 30.9% blood on tube as sign of mucosal lesions and 17.0% cyanotic tongue. Experience decreased the risk of mucosal lesions (odds ratio [OR]: 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-3.5). A higher than recommended volume of the oropharyngeal cuff was associated with blood on the ETC (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.3) and tongue cyanosis (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.4-3.7). Ventilation for more than 2 h was associated with tongue cyanosis (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.1) and tongue protrusion (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9). Conclusion: We conclude that the Combitube may be used for short procedures requiring general anaesthesia, but the high rate of minor complications limits its value when other alternatives such as a laryngeal mask airway are available. The tested method appears safe regarding major complications, but minor complications are common. Adherence to recommended cuff volumes, experience with the ETC and limiting its use to surgeries lasting less than 2 h might reduce the rate of complications.

Effectiveness of different supralottic airways during resuscitation manoeuvres. A systematic review. / Efectividad de la ventilación de los diversos dispositivos extraglóticos durante las maniobras de reanimación. Revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Supraglottic airways, which are easily inserted and minimize interruptions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation manoeuvres, are now widely used in pre- and in-hospital emergencies. However, most studies in these devices do not specify whether they ensure good ventilation during CPR. This systematic review aims to determine whether there is evidence that supraglotic airways enable effective ventilation during resuscitation. METHODS: The MEDLINE and COCHRANE databases were searched for studies published in English up to 30 November 2018. Eligible studies were all those that objectively evaluated tidal volume during resuscitation maneuvers in patients over 18 years of age using various supraglottic airways. RESULTS: A total of 3734 articles were identified, of which 252 were duplicates. Only 1 objectively evaluated ventilation during resuscitation maneuvers and presented data relevant to this review. The study included 470 patients, 51 of which underwent spirometry. Only 4.48% of patients survived to hospital discharge; however, the correlation with ventilation effectiveness was not assessed. CONCLUSION: There is no scientific evidence that supraglottic airways provide effective ventilation during resuscitation maneuvers. Evaluation by spirometry, chest impedance and ultrasound may help to determine the ventilatory efficacy of supraglottic airways during CPR, and clarify whether this factor contributes to the difficulties experienced in reversing cardiorespiratory arrest.

The Easytube for airway management: a systematic review of clinical and simulation studies.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Endotracheal intubation is considered the criterion-standard technique for securing the airway. Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) represent a major advance in airway management and are recommended by the guidelines in difficult situations such as Advanced Life Support and "cannot ventilate-cannot intubate" scenarios. The Easytube (EzT) is an SAD introduced a decade ago but not included yet in the above guidelines. DESIGN: Systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE according to PRISMA guidelines available up to January 12, 2016. SETTING: We collected experimental and clinical evidence regarding EzT positioning performed by medial students, anesthesiologists, paramedics, or nurses. PATIENTS: Manikins, cadavers, or patients. INTERVENTIONS: EzT positioning in both clinical and simulation studies, both under standard and under difficult scenarios. MEASUREMENTS: Time to insertion and time to ventilation, success rate and operator's assessment of the device, change in ventilatory parameters, and major complications. MAIN RESULTS: Fifteen manuscripts were found: 6 prospective clinical studies and 9 conducted under experimental conditions (7 with a simulator and 2 on cadavers). The EzT inserted by both inexperienced and experienced personnel in most studies had high success rate, and it showed excellent results also during simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in difficult airway scenarios. The EzT had better ventilatory parameters as compared with the Combitube and showed great airway sealing capacity, comparable to the Combitube and to the laryngeal mask airway and superior to other SADs. EzT allowed the insertion of large nasogastric tubes and has only mild adverse effects like other SADs. No major complications were described. CONCLUSION: The EzT appears to be a safe and a good alternative to established SADs. It may be considered among SADs by future guidelines on Advanced Life Support and "cannot ventilate-cannot intubate" scenarios.

Combitube insertion in the situation of acute airway obstruction after extubation in patients underwent two-jaw surgery.

The Combitube is an emergency airway-maintaining device, which can supply oxygen to dyspneic patients in emergency situations following two-jaw surgery. These patients experience difficulty in opening the mouth or have a partially obstructed airway caused by edema or hematoma in the oral cavity. As such, they cannot maintain the normal airway. The use of a Combitube may be favorable compared to the laryngeal mask airway because it is a thin and relatively resilient tube. A healthy 24-year-old man was dyspneic after extubation. Oxygen saturation fell below 90% despite untying the bimaxillary fixation and ambubagging. The opening of the mouth was narrow; thus, emergency airway maintenance was gained by insertion of a Combitube. The following day, a facial computer tomography revealed that the airway space narrowing was severe compared to its pre-operational state. After the swelling subsided, the patient was successfully extubated without complications.

Comparison of endotracheal intubation, combitube, and laryngeal mask airway between inexperienced and experienced emergency medical staff: A manikin study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel manage the airway, but only a group of them are allowed to engage in Endotracheal Intubation (ETI). Our purpose was to evaluate if the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or Combitube can be used by inexperienced care providers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, prospective manikin study was conducted. Fifty-nine participants were randomly assigned into two groups. Experienced group included 16 paramedics, eight anesthetic-technicians, and inexperienced group included 27 Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) and eight nurses. Our main outcomes were success rate and time to airway after only one attempt. RESULTS: Airway success was 73% for ETI, 98.3% for LMA, and 100% for Combitube. LMA and Combitube were faster and had greater success than ETI (P = 0.0001). Inexperienced had no differences in time to securing LMA compared with experienced (6.05 vs. 5.4 seconds, respectively, P = 0.26). One failure in inexperienced, and no failure in experienced group occurred to secure the LMA (P = 0.59). The median time to Combitube placement in experienced and inexperienced was 5.05 vs. 5.00 seconds, P = 0.65, respectively. Inexperienced and experienced groups performed ETI in 19.15 and 17 seconds, respectively (P = 0.001). After the trial, 78% preferred Combitube, 15.3% LMA, and 6.8% ETI as the device of choice in prehospital setting. CONCLUSION: Time to airway was decreased and success rate increased significantly with the use of LMA and combitube compared with ETI, regardless of the experience level. This study suggests that both Combitube and LMA may be acceptable choices for management of airway in the prehospital setting for experienced and especially inexperienced EMS personnel.

Alternativas a la intubación orotraqueal ANTE UNA VÍA Aérea difícil en nuestro medio / Alternatives for the orotracheal intubation in case of a difficult airway in our environment

Introducción: El control de la vía aérea en el quirófano es una responsabilidad del anestesiólogo, por lo que al finalizar su formación debe haber desarrollado las habilidades necesarias para atender esta exigencia. El control adecuado de la vía aérea para garantizar una correcta ventilación y oxigenación no sólo es indispensable en muchos procedimientos anestésico-quirúrgicos sino también en todas aquellas situaciones en las que la función respiratoria está comprometida. En los últimos años se ha producido una proliferación de nuevos dispositivos y se han mejorado las técnicas antiguas de intubación y ventilación proporcionándonos una gran ayuda en el manejo de la vía aérea difícil. Objetivo: Evaluar el empleo de nuevos instrumentales para la intubación difícil. Desarrollo: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre los nuevos instrumentos para intubación difícil recién llegados a nuestro hospital como estilete luminoso, guía de Eschmann o gum elastic bougie, combitubo, con el fin de adquirir los elementos teóricos para aplicarlo en la práctica clínica. Conclusiones. De acuerdo a la experiencia con estos instrumentos y la literatura revisada, la primera opción es la utilización del combitubo, la guía de Eschmann o gum elastic bougie en segundo lugar y el estilete luminoso en tercer lugar.

The anesthesiologist is responsible for the control of the airway in the operating theatre who ending its training must to have developed the skills necessary to manage this demand. The appropriate control of the airway to guarantee a proper ventilation and oxygenation not only is essential in many anesthetic-surgical procedures but also in all those situations where the respiratory function is involved. In past years there has been appeared new devices and an improvement in past techniques of intubation and ventilation allowing us a great help in the management of this difficult airway. Objective: To assess the use of new tools for a difficult intubation. Development: A bibliographic review was carried out on the new tools for a difficult intubation now available in our hospital including a bright stylet, Eschmann's guide or gum elastic bougie, combitube to acquire the theoretical elements to be applied in the clinical practice. Conclusions: According to experience with these tools and the reviewed literature, the first option is the use of the combitube, the Eschmann guide or gum elastic bougie in the second place, and the bright stylet in the third one.

Dispositivos supraglóticos: comportamiento de algunos parámetros de monitorización cardiorrespiratoria / Supraglottic devices: Behavior of some parameters of cardio-respiratory monitoring

Introducción: Los dispositivos supraglóticos son frecuentemente empleados para el abordaje de la vía aérea difícil y en situaciones en las cuales no sea necesaria la inserción de un tubo endotraqueal. Objetivo: Identificar el comportamiento de algunos parámetros de monitorización intraoperatoria con el empleo de tres dispositivos supraglóticos. Material y Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo en 45 pacientes ASA I y II, a los cuales se le administró anestesia general para procederes quirúrgicos de corta duración. Se dividieron aleatoriamente en tres grupos, con 15 pacientes cada uno. En el primero se empleó la máscara laringea clásica, en el segundo el Combitubo y en el tercero la cánula COPA. Las variables utilizadas fueron: tiempo de inserción, presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, frecuencia cardiaca y saturación parcial de oxígeno antes y después de la colocación y presión inspiratoria pico en la vía aérea, luego de insertado. Resultados: Los tres dispositivos resultaron de fácil colocación en un tiempo inferior a un minuto. Las presiones arteriales y la frecuencia cardiaca, no sufrieron variaciones apreciables. La saturación parcial de oxígeno, se mantuvo entre 95 y 100 %. En la mayoría de los pacientes, la presión inspiratoria pico estuvo por encima de 25 cm de H2O en la totalidad de los pacientes en los que se utilizó el Combitubo. Conclusiones: Los tres dispositivos empleados son una buena opción para garantizar una adecuada oxigenación y ventilación.

Supraglottic devices are frequently used for approach of difficult airway, and situations where it isn't necessary insertion of endotracheal tube. Objective: To identify behavior of some parameters of intraoperative monitoring using three supraglottic devices. Methods: We made a descriptive and observational study in 45 ASA I and II patients, who received general anesthesia for short term surgical procedures. Three groups were divided in a randomized way, with 15 patients in each. In the first one, we used the classic laryngeal mask, in the second one, the Combitube, and in the third one, the COPA cannula. Variables used included: insertion time, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate, and oxygen partial saturation before and after placement and peak inspiratory pressure in airway, after insertion. Results: Three devices were easily placed in less than a minute. In arterial pressures and heart rate there weren't significant changes. Oxygen partial saturation was between 95 and 100%. In most of patients, peak inspiratory pressure was above of 25 cm of H2O in all patients in which we used Combitube. Conclusions: Three devices used are a good choice to guarantee a proper oxygenation and ventilation.