How Are Prehospital King Laryngeal Tubes Managed in the ED?

Most patients who arrived with a King LT-D in place underwent surgical tracheostomy for definitive airway placement.

King laryngeal tubes are commonly used prehospital rescue devices but do not provide a definitive airway. There is little information about how these tools are exchanged for endotracheal tubes once patients reach the emergency department (ED). Investigators at a tertiary care academic medical center reviewed records of all ED patients who arrived with a King laryngeal tube LT-D placed by prehospital providers from 2007 to 2012. The exchange method was based on provider preference.

Of 52 adult patients who arrived with King LT-Ds, 4 died before the tube could be removed. Among the remaining 48 patients, the most common indications for airway management were cardiac arrest (58%) and polytrauma (19%). The most common method for definitive airwa…

Reviewing Author

Calvin A. Brown III, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Consultant / 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

Calvin A. Brown III, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Consultant / 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

How Are Prehospital King Laryngeal Tubes Managed in the ED?

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Reviewing Author