Research Day
SUPRAGLOTTIC AIRWAY DEVICE USE AMONG EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONDERS WITHIN A SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
Document Type
Abstract
Date
2021
Abstract
Introduction An i-gel is a blindly inserted supraglottic airway (SGA) utilized in prehospital airway management. The 2019 National Emergency Medical Services Scope of Practice Model includes SGA insertion for Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs) and Paramedics, although in Michigan, EMTs may also insert SGAs. Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) provide immediate lifesaving care while awaiting ambulance arrival. Kalamazoo County Medical Control Authority (KCMCA) has created a training system and protocol for use of SGAs by EMRs. The literature on EMR-level SGA insertion is sparse.
Objective: We sought to evaluate the success and complication rates of EMR prehospital SGA use to determine if EMRs can include SGA insertion in their regular scope of practice.
Methods: Data between November 2019 and September 2020 were retrospectively abstracted from KCMCA prehospital airway database, which contains the elements from electronically submitted EMR i-gel insertion reports. Descriptive statistics were computed with Microsoft Excel.
Results: EMRs logged 105 SGA insertions, with an success rate of 93.3%; 16% of attempts required adjustment/reinsertion due to complications. Although the dataset included limited data on EMT SGA insertions, rates were comparable (94.5% and 14.8%).
Discussion: Our analysis of EMR SGA insertion suggests success rates are similar to that of higher-trained prehospital providers. The majority of EMR SGA insertions were successful, indicating EMRs can be trained to utilize these devices as a part of their scope of practice for prehospital airway management.