Browsing by Author "Jooste, Willem Johannes Lodewyk"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The availability of alternative devices for the management of the difficult airway in public emergency centres in the Western Cape
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Jooste, Willem Johannes Lodewyk; Van Hoving, Daniel Jacobus; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Family and Emergency Medicine.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: The failed or difficult airway is a rare, but life-threatening situation. Alternative airway devices to direct laryngoscopy are essential aids to manage these scenarios successfully. Objective: To determine which alternative airway devices are currently available in public emergency centres in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 15 emergency centres. Data regarding the availability of different classes of alternative airway devices was documented on a standardised data collection sheet by a single investigator via direct observation. Incomplete or non-functional equipment was classified as ‘unavailable’. Summary statistics were used to describe the data. Results: Twenty-six different types of alternative airway devices were documented. Three centres (20%) had no alternative airway device. Five centres (33.3%) stocked only one device, three centres (20%) had two devices and four centres (26.7%) had more than two devices. Most centres (n=12, 80%) stocked supraglottic airways (only one centre (6.7%) had paediatric sizes). Tracheal tube introducers were available in five centres (33.3%). Four centres (26.7%) had video-laryngoscopes, but none had optical laryngoscopes. Retroglottic devices and needle cricothyroidotomy equipment were available in two centres (13.3%). Although surgical cricothyroidotomy equipment was available, the equipment was widely dispersed and only three centres (20%) had pre-packed sets available. None of the specialised paediatric centres had needle cricothyroidotomy equipment readily available. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that Western Cape public emergency centres are currently inadequately stocked with regards to alternative airway devices. A guideline regarding the procurement and implementation of these devices is needed.