Prehospital and emergency department airway management of severe penetrating trauma in Sweden during the past decade
Renberg M et Al. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2023 Nov 24;31(1):85

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On sait cet exercice difficile même entre des mains expérimentées. Cet article le confirme. N'oublions pas; ce qui compte en premier c'est d'oxygéner. Avant de procéder à une intubation, bien évaluer l'état hémodynamique car une induction et une mise sous respirateur peuvent l'altérer, voire être responsable d'un arrêt cardiaque.

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Background:

Prehospital tracheal intubation (TI) is associated with increased mortality in patients with penetrating trauma, and the utility of prehospital advanced airway management is debated. The increased incidence of deadly violence in Sweden warrants a comprehensive evaluation of current airway management for patients with penetrating trauma in the Swedish prehospital environment and on arrival in the emergency department (ED).

Methods:

This was an observational, multicenter study of all patients with penetrating trauma and injury severity scores (ISSs) ≥ 15 included in the Swedish national trauma register (SweTrau) between 2011 and 2019. We investigated the frequency and characteristics of prehospital and ED TI, including 30-day mortality and patient characteristics associated with TI.

Result:

Of 816 included patients, 118 (14.5%) were intubated prehospitally, and 248 (30.4%) were intubated in the ED. Patients who were intubated prehospitally had a higher ISS, 33 (interquartile range [IQR] 25, 75), than those intubated in the ED, 25 (IQR 18, 34). Prehospital TI was associated with a higher associated mortality, OR 4.26 (CI 2.57, 7.27, p < 0.001) than TI in the ED, even when adjusted for ISS (OR 2.88 [CI 1.64, 5.14, p < 0.001]). Hemodynamic collapse (≤ 40 mmHg) and low GCS score (≤ 8) were the characteristics most associated with prehospital TI. Traumatic cardiac arrests (TCAs) occurred in 154 (18.9%) patients, of whom 77 (50%) were intubated prehospitally and 56 (36.4%) were intubated in the ED. A subgroup analysis excluding TCA showed that patients with prehospital TI did not have a higher mortality rate than those with ED TI, OR 2.07 (CI 0.93, 4.51, p = 0.068), with OR 1.39 (0.56, 3.26, p = 0.5) when adjusted for ISS.

Conclusion:

Prehospital TI was associated with a higher mortality rate than those with ED TI, which was specifically related to TCA; intubation did not affect mortality in patients without cardiac arrest. Mortality was high when airway management was needed, regardless of cardiac arrest, thereby emphasizing the challenges posed when anesthesia is needed. Several interventions, including whole blood transfusions, the implementation of second-tier EMS units and measures to shorten scene times, have been initiated in Sweden to counteract these challenges. Sweden.

A multicentre randomised controlled trial of the McGrath Mac videolaryngoscope versus conventional laryngoscopy
M Kriege M et All. Anaesthesia. 2023 Mar 16. doi: 10.1111/anae.15985.

Before completion of this study, there was insufficient evidence demonstrating the superiority of videolaryngoscopy compared with direct laryngoscopy for elective tracheal intubation. We hypothesised that using videolaryngoscopy for routine tracheal intubation would result in higher first-pass tracheal intubation success compared with direct laryngoscopy. In this multicentre randomised trial, 2092 adult patients without predicted difficult airway requiring tracheal intubation for elective surgery were allocated randomly to either videolaryngoscopy with a Macintosh blade (McGrath) or direct laryngoscopy. First-pass tracheal intubation success was higher with the McGrath (987/1053, 94%), compared with direct laryngoscopy (848/1039, 82%); absolute risk reduction (95%CI) was 12.1% (10.9-13.6%). This resulted in a relative risk (95%CI) of unsuccessful tracheal intubation at first attempt of 0.34 (0.26-0.45; p < 0.001) for McGrath compared with direct laryngoscopy. Cormack and Lehane grade ≥ 3 was observed more frequently with direct laryngoscopy (84/1039, 8%) compared with McGrath (8/1053, 0.7%; p < 0.001) No significant difference in tracheal intubation-associated adverse events was observed between groups. This study demonstrates that using McGrath videolaryngoscopy compared with direct laryngoscopy improves first-pass tracheal intubation success in patients having elective surgery. Practitioners may consider using this device as first choice for tracheal intubation.

Rapid sequence induction: An international survey

Klucka J et Al. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2020 Jun;37(6):435-442

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La kétamine, la kétamine la kétamine, la kéta......, la............ Mais pour vous ouvrir l'esprit lisez donc également cet article

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Background: Rapid sequence induction (RSI) is a standard procedure, which should be implemented in all patients with a risk of aspiration/regurgitation during anaesthesia induction.

Objective: The primary aim was to evaluate clinical practice in RSI, both in adult and paediatric populations.

Design: Online survey.

Settings: A total of 56 countries.

Participants: Members of the European Society of Anaesthesiology.

Main outcome measures: The aim was to identify and describe the actual clinical practice of RSI related to general anaesthesia.

Results: From the 1921 respondents, 76.5% (n=1469) were qualified anaesthesiologists. When anaesthetising adults, the majority (61.7%, n=1081) of the respondents preoxygenated patients with 100% O2 for 3 min and 65.9% (n=1155) administered opioids during RSI.

The Sellick manoeuvre was used by 38.5% (n=675) and was not used by 37.4% (n=656) of respondents. First-line medications for a haemodynamically stable adult patient were propofol (90.6%, n=1571) and suxamethonium (56.0%, n=932). Manual ventilation (inspiratory pressure <12 cmH2O) was used in 35.5% (n=622) of respondents. In the majority of paediatric patients, 3 min of preoxygenation (56.6%, n=817) and opioids (54.9%, n=797) were administered. The Sellick manoeuvre and manual ventilation (inspiratory pressure <12 cmH2O) in children were used by 23.5% (n=340) and 35.9% (n=517) of respondents, respectively. First-line induction drugs for a haemodynamically stable child were propofol (82.8%, n=1153) and rocuronium (54.7%, n=741).

Conclusion: We found significant heterogeneity in the daily clinical practice of RSI. For patient safety, our findings emphasise the need for international RSI guidelines

Rapid Sequence Induction Strategies Among Critically Injured U.S. Military During the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts
Emerling Alec D et Al. Mil Med. 2021 Jan 25;186(Suppl 1):316-323. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaa356.

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Pour une meilleure stabilité hémodynamique des blessés graves, peu importe l'agent si l est employé à la bonne dose ET SURTOUT transfusez avant l'induction si votre blessé saigne/a saigné.

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Abstract

Introduction: Rapid sequence intubation of patients experiencing traumatic hemorrhage represents a precarious phase of care, which can be marked by hemodynamic instability and pulseless arrest. Military combat trauma guidelines recommend reduced induction dose and early blood product resuscitation. Few studies have evaluated the role of induction dose and preintubation transfusion on hemodynamic outcomes. We compared rates of postintubation systolic blood pressure (SBP) of < 70 mm Hg, > 30% drop in SBP, pulseless arrest, and mortality at 24 hours and 30 days among patients who did and did not receive blood products before intubation and then examined if induction agent and dose influenced the same outcomes.

Materials and methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed of battle-injured personnel presenting to surgical care facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2004 and 2018. Those who received blood transfusions, underwent intubation, and had an Injury Severity Score of ≥15 were included. Intubation for primary head, facial, or neck injury, burns, operative room intubations, or those with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in progress were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression was performed with unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for the five study outcomes among patients who did and did not receive preintubation blood products. The same analysis was performed for patients who received full or excessive versus partial induction agent dose.

Results:

A total of 153 patients had a mean age of 24.9 (SD 4.5), Injury Severity Score 29.7 (SD 11.2), heart rate 122.8 (SD 24), SBP 108.2 (SD 26.6). Eighty-one (53%) patients received preintubation blood products and had similar characteristics to those who did not receive transfusions. Adjusted multivariate analysis found odds ratios as follows: 30% SBP decrease 9.4 (95% CI 2.3-38.0), SBP < 70 13.0 (95% CI 3.3-51.6), pulseless arrest 18.5 (95% CI 1.2-279.3), 24-hour mortality 3.8 (95% CI 0.7-21.5), and 30-day mortality 1.3 (0.4-4.7). In analysis of induction agent choice and comparison of induction agent dose, no statistically significant benefit was seen.

Conclusion:

Within the context of this historical cohort, the early use of blood products conferred a statistically significant benefit in reducing postintubation hypotension and pulseless arrest among combat trauma victims exposed to traumatic hemorrhage. Induction agent choice and dose did not significantly influence the hemodynamic or mortality outcomes.

Pre-hospital emergent intubation in trauma patients: the influence of etomidate on mortality, morbidity and healthcare resource utilization.

Gäßler M et AL. 2019 Jun 7;27(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s13049-019-0637-z.

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Cette publication revient sur le débat qui porte sur l'emploi de l'étomidate pour l'intubation préhospitalière. Son emploi est remis en cause par certains, notamment à cause de ses effets dépresseurs cortico-surrénaliens tout particulièrement en cas de sepsis. Les auteurs, si ils ne rapportent pas d'effets délétères sur la mortalité, mettent en évidence une durée d'hospitalisation et de ventialtion plus longue dans le groupe ETO. Plusieurs informations méritent une lecture critique de ce travail. Le premier est la présence dans le groupe non-ETO de thiopental, responsable de nombreux décès lors de l'attaque de pearl harbour (1). La seconde est l'augmentation significative de défaillance cardio-vasculaire dan le groupe non-ETO. On peut se poser la question de l'impact du thiopental dans ce groupe. Le propofol peut également être à l'origine d'une instabilité hémodynamique et nécessite un vrai apprentissage. La quatrième réflexion porte sur le niveau de qualification, qui n'est pas précisé, des personnels réalisant ces intubations.

Ce document ne permet pa de remettre en question la recommandation d'emploi de la Kétamine pour l'ISR dans le cadre de la mise en condition de survie du blessé de guerre (2).

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BACKGROUND:

Due to its favorable hemodynamic characteristics and by providing good intubation conditions etomidate is often used for induction of general anesthesia in trauma patients. It has been linked to temporary adrenal cortical dysfunction. The clinical relevance of this finding after a single-dose is still lacking appropriate evidence.

METHODS:

This retrospective multi-centre study is based on merged data from a German Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) database and a large trauma patient registry. All trauma patients who were intubated prior to hospital admission with a documented Injury Severity Score ≥ 9 between 2008 and 2012 were eligible for analysis. The primary endpoint was hospital mortality. Other outcome measures were organ failures, sepsis, length of ventilation, as well as length of stay in hospital and ICU.

RESULTS:

One thousand six hundred ninety seven patients were enrolled into the study. Seven hundred sixty two patients received etomidate and 935 patients received other induction agents. The in-hospital mortality was similar in both groups (18.9% versus 18.2%; p = 0.71). Incidences of organ failures and sepsis were not increased in the etomidate group. However, health care resource utilization parameters were prolonged (after adjusting: + 1.3 days for ICU length of stay, p = 0.062; + 0.8 days for length of ventilation, p = 0.15; + 2,7 days for hospital length of stay, p = 0.034). A multivariable logistic regression analysis did not identify etomidate as an independent predictor of hospital mortality (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.77-1.57; p = 0.60).

CONCLUSIONS:

This is the largest trial investigating outcome data for trauma patients who had received a single-dose of etomidate for induction of anesthesia. The use of etomidate did not affect mortality. The influence on morbidity and health care resource utilization remains unclear.

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Role of upper airway ultrasound in airway management

Osman A. et Al. Osman and Sum Journal of Intensive Care (2016) 4:52

Upper airway ultrasound is a valuable, non-invasive, simple, and portable point of care ultrasound (POCUS) for evaluation of airway management even in anatomy distorted by pathology or trauma. Ultrasound enables us to identify important sonoanatomy of the upper airway such as thyroid cartilage, epiglottis, cricoid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, tracheal cartilages, and esophagus. Understanding this applied sonoanatomy facilitates clinician to use ultrasound in assessment of airway anatomy for difficult intubation, ETT and LMA placement and depth, assessment of airway size, ultrasound-guided invasive procedures such as percutaneous needle cricothyroidotomy and tracheostomy, prediction of postextubation stridor and left double-lumen bronchial tube size, and detecting upper airway pathologies. Widespread POCUS awareness, better technological advancements, portability, and availability of ultrasound in most critical areas facilitate upper airway ultrasound to become the potential first-line non-invasive airway assessment tool in the future.

Froid et suxaméthonium : une recommandation non fondée

Dewachter P et AL. Ann. Fr. Med. Urgence DOI 10.1007/s13341-015-0600-1

Morceaux choisis:

L’Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM) a publié en 2012 une recommandation destinée aux médecins anesthésistes-réanimateurs et urgentistes décrivant les conditions d’utilisation du chlorure de suxaméthonium. .......Cette recommandation faisait suite à une enquête rétrospective de pharmacovigilance sur les réactions allergiques induites par les curares qui mettait en évidence une augmentation des notifications de réactions allergiques attribuées au suxaméthonium........Néanmoins, l’hypothèse émise par l’ANSM ne résiste pas à l’évaluation scientifique. En effet, aucune étude n’a démontré que le suxaméthonium conservé à température ambiante favorise la survenue d’une réaction allergique, ce qui avait déjà été souligné lors de la publication de cette recommandation..........................En revanche, depuis 20 ans, plusieurs équipes européennes et nord-américaines ont confirmé la stabilité des solutions de chlorure de suxaméthonium à température ambiante ou lors de variations extrêmes de température................... La succinylcholine (50 mg/mL) préservée dans l’ampoule est stable pendant deux mois à température ambiante (25°C) [5] alors que la solution à 20 mg/mL reste stable au moins sept jours après exposition à des variations extrêmes de température (de -6°C à +54°C).......................Par ailleurs, la solution de succinylcholine (20 mg/mL) conservée dans une seringue en plastique est stable trois mois à 25°C et deux mois à 40°C . Enfin, la stabilité de la succinylcholine stockée à bord d’ambulances, respectivement pendant sept mois [8] et un an , a été évaluée après exposition aux variations climatiques auxquelles ces équipes sont exposées. La succinylcholine (20 mg/mL) est stable pendant environ trois mois quand elle est soumise à des températures moyennes variant de -9°C à +32°C [8] alors que la solution à 100 mg/mL est stable pendant un peu plus d’un mois quand elle est exposée de -8°C à +36°C. D’autres études ont également confirmé la stabilité de la succinylcholine (10 mg/ml) dans une seringue en plastique pendant sept jours [9] et pendant au moins cinq mois, quand celle-ci est conservée dans l’ampoule (20 et 50 mg/ml) ..........Plus récemment, la stabilité de la succinylcholine à température ambiante (25°C) a été confirmée par l’ANSM pour qui les résultats obtenus sont « conformes aux spécifications à péremption décrites dans le dossier d’AMM................Ce rapport de conclure que « les données relatives à la qualité ne semblent donc pas être en mesure d’expliquer l’augmentation des réactions anaphylactiques sur la période étudiée............Le turn-over prévisible de l’utilisation du suxaméthonium stocké à température ambiante rend ainsi son utilisation possible par les équipes de Samu. En effet, l’éventuelle morbidité – voire mortalité – induite par cette recommandation ne peut être occultée. Nombreux sont les patients qui devant bénéficier d’une induction à séquence rapide, ont été intubés sans curare par les équipes qui ne disposaient pas d’un réfrigérateur à bord alors que l’appréciation de la balance risque/ bénéfice penche en faveur de l’utilisation du suxaméthonium dans cette situation clinique

Gammon DL, et al (2008) Alteration in prehospital drug concentration after thermal exposure. Am J Emerg Med 26:566–73.

Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (2013) Enquête officielle de pharmacovigilance relative aux réactions anaphylactiques liées à l’utilisation des curares. 21 mai 2013.

Difficult Airway Society 2015 guidelines for management of unanticipated difficult intubation in adults

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Videolaryngoscopy in trauma

Eggleton A. Anaesthesia 2015, 70, 1454–1466

In their paper on airway management in cervical spine injury [1], focusing on videolaryngoscopy, Duggan and Griesdale mention characteristics that predispose to failure of videolaryngoscopy, including anatomical abnormality, local scarring, radiotherapy, and airway masses. An additional factor worth considering, especially in the context of trauma, is the impact of oropharyngeal blood on the videolaryngoscopic view, which can obscure the larynx or camera lens and obstruct the light source, reducing illumination. Recent personal experiences with a McGrath MAC videolaryngoscope (Aircraft Medical, Edinburgh, UK) found that dried blood lining the oropharynx reduced reﬂection, producing a dull on-screen image, requiring conversion to direct laryngosc opy. It seems likely that videolaryngoscopy will replace direct laryngoscopy as the standard method of intubation, but the auth ors are correct in saying it will remain necessary to maintain ski lls in both techniques.

Reference

1. Duggan LV, Griesdale DEG. Secondary cervical spine injury during airway management: beyond a one-size-ﬁts-all

approach. Anaesthesia 2015; 70: 769–73

The effect of laryngoscope handle size on possible endotracheal intubation success in university football, ice hockey, and soccer players.

Delaney JS et Al. Clin J Sport Med. 2012 Jul;22(4):341-8

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Un laryngoscope avec un manche court serait plus facile à utiliser. On rappelle que le laryngodcope truphatek dispose d'un manche court.

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OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effectiveness of a standard long-handle laryngoscope and a short-handle laryngoscope on ease of possible intubation in football, ice hockey, and soccer players.

DESIGN:

Prospective crossover study.

SETTING:

University Sport Medicine Clinic.

PARTICIPANTS:

Sixty-two university varsity football (62 males), 45 ice hockey (26 males and 19 females), and 39 soccer players (20 males, 19 females).

INTERVENTIONS:

Athletes were assessed for different airway and physical characteristics. Three different physicians then assessed the use of laryngoscopes of different handle sizes in supine athletes who were wearing protective equipment while in-line cervical spine immobilization was maintained.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The ease of passage of a laryngoscope blade into the posterior oropharynx of a supine athlete was assessed using both a standard long-handle and a short-handle laryngoscope.

RESULTS:

Use of a short-handle laryngoscope was easier for all physicians in all sports as compared with a standard-sized laryngoscope. Passage of a laryngoscope blade into the posterior oropharynx of a supine athlete was easiest in soccer players and most difficult in football and ice hockey players for both sizes of laryngoscope. Interference from chest or shoulder pads was a common cause for difficulty in passing the laryngoscope blade into the posterior oropharynx for football and ice hockey players.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the rare instances that an endotracheal intubation is to be attempted on an unconscious athlete, a short-handle laryngoscope may provide the best chance for successful intubation.

The process of prehospital airway management: challenges and solutions during paramedic endotracheal intubation

Prekker ME et AL. Crit Care Med. 2014 Jun;42(6):1372-8

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En France les seuls infirmiers à intuber sont les IADE. Pourtant dans le reste du monde d'autres catégories de personnels de santé non médecins le pratiquent. Les EMT communément appelés paramedic sont formés et réalisent ce geste en préhopsitalier. Il existe maintenant suffisamment de littérature pour pouvoir dire que cette pratique est valide avec bien sûr la nécessité d'une formation adaptée. C'est que rapporte ce document qui n'est pas le seul.

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OBJECTIVES:

Endotracheal intubation success rates in the prehospital setting are variable. Our objective was to describe the challenges encountered and corrective actions taken during the process of endotracheal intubation by paramedics.

DESIGN:

Analysis of prehospital airway management using a prospective registry that was linked to an emergency medical services administrative database.

SETTING:

Emergency medical services system serving King County, Washington, 2006-2011. Paramedics in this system have the capability to administer neuromuscular blocking agents to facilitate intubation (i.e., rapid sequence intubation).

PATIENTS:

A total of 7,523 patients more than 12 years old in whom paramedics attempted prehospital endotracheal intubation.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

An intubation attempt was defined as the introduction of the laryngoscope into the patient's mouth, and the attempt concluded when the laryngoscope was removed from the mouth. Endotracheal intubation was successful on the first attempt in 77% and ultimately successful in 99% of patients (7,433 of 7,523).

Paramedics used a rapid sequence intubation strategy on 54% of first attempts. Among the subset with a failed first attempt (n = 1,715), bodily fluids obstructing the laryngeal view (50%), obesity (28%), patient positioning (17%), and facial or spinal trauma (6%) were identified as challenges to intubation. A variety of adjustments were made to achieve intubation success, including upper airway suctioning (used in 43% of attempts resulting in success), patient repositioning (38%), rescue bougie use (19%), operator change (16%), and rescue rapid sequence intubation (6%). Surgical cricothyrotomy (0.4%, n = 27) and bag-valve-mask ventilation (0.8%, n = 60) were rarely performed by paramedics as final rescue airway strategies.

CONCLUSIONS:

Airway management in the prehospital setting has substantial challenges. Success can require a collection of adjustments that involve equipment, personnel, and medication often in a simultaneous fashion.

Prehospital anaesthesia performed by physician/critical care paramedic teams in a major trauma network in the UK: a 12 month review of practice

Mc Queen C et Al. Emerg Med J. 2015 Jan;32(1):65-9.

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A l'évidence, cette analyse montre que ce n'est pas une question de statut mais de formation et d'entrainement. Mais il s'agit là d'une autre culture médicale

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INTRODUCTION:

In the West Midlands region of the UK, delivery of pre-hospital care has been remodelled through introduction of a 24 h Medical Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT). Teams including physicians and critical care paramedics (CCP) are deployed to incidents on land-based and helicopter-based platforms. Clinical practice, including delivery of rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI), is underpinned by standard operating procedures (SOP). This study describes the first 12 months experience of prehospital RSI in the MERIT scheme in the West Midlands.