Et Tubes vs Lma
1 Intro Since adequate breathing is always a first goal in supportive care or crisis rescue, it is essential in health care to establish a patent passage from the patient's mouth to their lungs in order for the patient to survive. This airway ensures unobstructed breathing for basic support or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There are two devices that are most commonly used and each device has specific indications and contraindication.
2 Research question
This study was done to answer the following question: Are licensed practitioner's beliefs about airways (oral ET-tube and LMA) consistent with the current printed information and do they report using the airways in a similar manner? To answer this question, we first needed to know what practices the current published studies have suggested will have better out-comes and less side affects. We also needed to find out; are practitioners aware of the evidence-based practices that are currently published and have they had any continuing education about airway management? Does the location where the practitioner performs airway management impact their practices? Are their decisions based on departmental policy or do they decide on their own which device to use? Does the medical specialty in which they practice or the number of years in their field impact their practices or predetermine their knowledge of the devices.
3 Literature Review
The first device is an oral endotracheal Tube (oral ET-tube). It consists of a thin-walled tube with a balloon near the distal end that seals the airway and a connection on the proximal end, which enables connection to resuscitation devices. The tube is inserted past the patient's epiglottis, through the patient's vocal chords using a laryngoscope. The laryngoscope is an "L" shaped tool with a light source at the end that is used to lift and open the patient's epiglottis so that the practitioner can visualize the ET tube passing through the vocal chords into the trachea.
2 Research question
This study was done to answer the following question: Are licensed practitioner's beliefs about airways (oral ET-tube and LMA) consistent with the current printed information and do they report using the airways in a similar manner? To answer this question, we first needed to know what practices the current published studies have suggested will have better out-comes and less side affects. We also needed to find out; are practitioners aware of the evidence-based practices that are currently published and have they had any continuing education about airway management? Does the location where the practitioner performs airway management impact their practices? Are their decisions based on departmental policy or do they decide on their own which device to use? Does the medical specialty in which they practice or the number of years in their field impact their practices or predetermine their knowledge of the devices.
3 Literature Review
The first device is an oral endotracheal Tube (oral ET-tube). It consists of a thin-walled tube with a balloon near the distal end that seals the airway and a connection on the proximal end, which enables connection to resuscitation devices. The tube is inserted past the patient's epiglottis, through the patient's vocal chords using a laryngoscope. The laryngoscope is an "L" shaped tool with a light source at the end that is used to lift and open the patient's epiglottis so that the practitioner can visualize the ET tube passing through the vocal chords into the trachea.