Biomaterial Database

Difficulties with portable suction equipment used for prehospital advanced airway procedures. 1997

R J Kozak, and B E Ginther, and W S Bean

Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92668, USA.

BACKGROUND Airway management is the highest priority for prehospital personnel. While different modalities for airway management are under investigation, endotracheal intubation remains the standard for definitive airway protection. Currently, airway adjuncts such as portable suction remain relatively unstudied. OBJECTIVE To identify utilization and complications associated with portable suction equipment used by prehospital medical personnel. METHODS Fifty-one paramedics serving a Level I urban trauma center were anonymously surveyed to determine types of equipment used, maintenance and utilization patterns, difficulties encountered, and training received with that equipment. RESULTS The paramedics reported carrying suction equipment to the scene of medical aid calls less than 25% of the time. Once on scene, suction equipment is utilized during 50% of advanced airway procedures. Half of the paramedics reported complications affecting patient care at least once during their careers due to equipment malfunction. Ninety-eight percent of the paramedics reported having some type of training with the suction equipment for prehospital advanced airway procedures. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that suction equipment is carried to the scene infrequently and, when employed, is often found to be functioning suboptimally. Suggestions for improvement and further investigation are provided.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007442	Intubation, Intratracheal	A procedure involving placement of a tube into the trachea through the mouth or nose in order to provide a patient with oxygen and anesthesia.	Intubation, Endotracheal,Endotracheal Intubation,Endotracheal Intubations,Intratracheal Intubation,Intratracheal Intubations,Intubations, Endotracheal,Intubations, Intratracheal
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D012131	Respiratory Insufficiency	Failure to adequately provide oxygen to cells of the body and to remove excess carbon dioxide from them. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure,Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure,Hypercapnic Acute Respiratory Failure,Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure,Hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure,Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure,Respiratory Depression,Respiratory Failure,Ventilatory Depression,Depressions, Ventilatory,Failure, Hypercapnic Respiratory,Failure, Hypoxemic Respiratory,Failure, Respiratory,Hypercapnic Respiratory Failures,Hypoxemic Respiratory Failures,Respiratory Failure, Hypercapnic,Respiratory Failure, Hypoxemic,Respiratory Failures
D002140	California	State bounded on the east by Nevada and Arizona, on the south by Mexico and the Pacific Ocean on the south and west, and on the north by Oregon.
D004634	Emergency Medical Technicians	Allied health personnel trained to provide basic emergency care and life support under the supervision of physicians and/or nurses. These services may be carried out at the site of the emergency, in the ambulance, or in a health care institution.	Advanced EMT,Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians,Emergency Medical Technician,Emergency Medicine Technicians,Medical Technician, Emergency,Medical Technicians, Emergency,Technician, Emergency Medical,Technicians, Emergency Medical,Advanced EMTs,EMT, Advanced,EMTs, Advanced,Emergency Medicine Technician,Technician, Emergency Medicine,Technicians, Emergency Medicine
D004864	Equipment and Supplies	Expendable and nonexpendable equipment, supplies, apparatus, and instruments that are used in diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, scientific, and experimental procedures.	Apparatus and Instruments,Devices,Medical Devices,Device, Medical,Devices, Medical,Equipment,Inventories,Medical Device,Supplies,Device,Instruments and Apparatus,Inventory,Supplies and Equipment
D004868	Equipment Failure	Failure of equipment to perform to standard. The failure may be due to defects or improper use.	Defects, Equipment,Device Failure,Failure, Equipment,Malfunction, Equipment,Medical Device Failure,Misuse, Equipment,Device Failure, Medical,Device Failures, Medical,Failure, Medical Device,Failures, Medical Device,Defect, Equipment,Device Failures,Equipment Defect,Equipment Defects,Equipment Failures,Equipment Malfunction,Equipment Malfunctions,Equipment Misuse,Equipment Misuses,Failure, Device,Failures, Device,Failures, Equipment,Malfunctions, Equipment,Misuses, Equipment
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014193	Trauma Centers	Specialized hospital facilities which provide diagnostic and therapeutic services for trauma patients.	Trauma Units,Center, Trauma,Centers, Trauma,Trauma Center,Trauma Unit,Unit, Trauma,Units, Trauma
D019037	Urban Health Services	Health services, public or private, in urban areas. The services include the promotion of health and the delivery of health care.	Health Services, Urban,Services, Urban Health,Health Service, Urban,Service, Urban Health,Urban Health Service