Supraglottic airway device placement by respiratory therapists

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are some of the first staff to arrive at in-hospital incidents where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is needed, yet at some facilities, their ability to intubate is limited by hospital scope of practice. During the intubation process, CPR is often interrupted which could potentially increase the likelihood of adverse patient outcomes. Training RTs to secure the airway using non-intubation methods may reduce or eliminate time for CPR interruptions and allow for earlier continuous/uninterrupted chest compressions.

Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - June 13, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: David J. Heegeman, William D. Rosandick, Rachel H. Boehning-Anderson, Andrew R. Woltmann Source Type: research