In large study of Southeast Asian patients, risk factors for difficult or failed ventilation with an SGA were short thyromental distance, cervical spine immobility, male sex, and age over 45.
Risk factors for difficult bag-and-mask ventilation have been well validated, but less is known about risk factors for difficult use of supraglottic airway (SGA) devices. Investigators reviewed records for 14,480 adult surgery patients in whom an SGA was used between 2011 and 2013 at a tertiary hospital in Southeast Asia. Devices were chosen by the operator and included a variety of laryngeal mask airways and the i-gel; no dual-balloon SGAs (i.e., King-LT) were used.
Difficult ventilation — defined as excessive air leak, obstruction to gas flow, hypoxemia, or poor chest rise — occurred in 74 patients (0.5%). Most (58%) were managed successfully by repositioning or replacing the SGA, while the others required rescue tracheal intubation. Failu…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant / Advisory boardVerathon, Inc. (Scientific Advisory Board Member)
Editorial boardsScientific American Emergency Medicine; Manual of Emergency Airway Management (Editor-in-Chief)
Leadership positions in professional societiesPrograms Subcommittee Chair for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine–Residency and Fellowship Fair
DisclosuresConsultant / Advisory boardVerathon, Inc. (Scientific Advisory Board Member)
Editorial boardsScientific American Emergency Medicine; Manual of Emergency Airway Management (Editor-in-Chief)
Leadership positions in professional societiesPrograms Subcommittee Chair for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine–Residency and Fellowship Fair