Читать книгу Emergency Medical Services - Группа авторов - Страница 123

EMS clinicians may need to manage patients’ airways in unusual prehospital situations. Important considerations include the following.

 Ground‐level intubation. Many different intubation positions are described for ground‐level intubation. Left lateral decubitus positioning may prove the best approach in this situation.

 Face‐to‐face intubation. The “tomahawk” approach may be viable in this situation.

 Low light intubation. Optimizing available ambient light may help to facilitate intubation in low light conditions.

 Minimize field equipment. A minimal airway management kit may be necessary. New miniaturized technology provides options for minimizing the airway kit.

 Telemedicine assistance. Remote airway management guidance may be possible with new telemedicine technology.

 Tactical airway management. Airway management is best deferred until the intensity of the threat has decreased. Operational constraints may force the operator to consider early surgical airway.

 Communicable disease. Focus on minimizing the risk to the clinician during airway management through adequate preparation, PPE, and tactics to decrease exposure during airway procedures.