Fibreoptic intubation, high frequency jet ventilation, and videolaryngoscopy form part of the Royal College of Anaesthetists\ncompulsory higher airway training module. Curriculum delivery requires equipment availability and competent trainers. We\nsought to establish (1) availability of advanced airway equipment in UK hospitals (Survey I) and (2) if those interested in airway\nmanagement (Difficult Airway Society (DAS) members) had access to videolaryngoscopes, their basic skill levels and teaching\ncompetence with these devices and if they believed that videolaryngoscopy was replacing conventional or fibreoptic laryngoscopy\n(Survey II). Data was obtained from 212 hospitals (73.1%) and 554 DAS members (27.6%). Most hospitals (202, 99%) owned a\nfiberscope, 119 (57.5%) had a videolaryngoscope, yet only 62 (29.5%) had high frequency jet ventilators. DAS members had variable\naccess to videolaryngoscopes with Airtraq 319 (59.6%) and Glidescope 176 (32.9%) being the most common. More DAS members\nwere happy to teach or use videolaryngoscopes in a difficult airway than thosewho had used them more than ten times.The majority\nrated Macintosh laryngoscopy as the most important airway skill. Members rated fibreoptic intubation and videolaryngoscopy\nskills equally. Our surveys demonstrate widespread availability of fibreoptic scopes, limited availability of videolaryngoscopes, and\nlimited numbers of experienced videolaryngoscope tutors.
Loading....