Crico: Manque d'expérience/Entraînement

Emergency front-of-neck airway by ENT surgeons and residents: A dutch national survey

Bruijstens L et Al. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2018 Oct 31;3(5):356-363. doi: 10.1002/lio2.183. eCollection 2018 Oct.

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Ce travail hollandais met en avant le caractère non anecdotique des accès chirurgicaux aux voies aériennes. Pour les chirurgiens ORL hollandais, il s'agit essentiellement de trachéotomies. Le faible recours à la coniotomie s'explique surtout par le manque d'entraînement et d'équipements spécifiques. L'article souligne l'importance des démarches d'acquisition et de maintien des compétences, ce qui ne doit pas nous étonner. Comme pour les chirurgiens ORL le besoin d'un programme structuré de formations à l'accès aux voies aériennes en condition de combat est un impératif.

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Objectives:

ENT surgeons and anesthesiologists work closely together in managing challenging airway cases. Sharing knowledge, experiences, and expectations interdisciplinary is essential in order to facilitate decision-making and adequate management in emergency front-of-neck airway cases.

Methods:

A survey was performed, to analyze level of experience, technique of preference, training, knowledge of material and protocols, and self-efficacy scores of Dutch ENT surgeons and residents in performing an urgent or emergency front-of-neck airway.

Results:

Within one year (January 2014-2015), 25.7% of the 257 respondents had performed an urgent or emergency front-of-neck airway. Of all reported emergency front-of-neck airways (N = 30), 80% were managed by tracheotomy. In future emergency front-of-neck airway cases, 74% stated cricothyrotomy would be their technique of preference. The majority would choose an uncuffed large-bore cannula technique. Post-academic hands-on training was attended by 42% of respondents. Self-efficacy scores were highest for surgical tracheotomy, and higher when trained or experienced. In case of an emergency scenario, 8.6% would not perform a front-of-neck airway themselves.

The main reasons for reluctance to start in general were lack of experience and lack of training. Reported items for improvement were mainly the development of a protocol and training.

Conclusion:

The chance of encountering an airway emergency scenario requiring front-of-neck airway is realistic. There is inconsistency between advised technique, technique of preference and technique actually performed by ENT surgeons. This study shows that there is both a need and desire for improvement in training and organization of care. Interdisciplinary guidelines and education is needed and could eventually safe lives.