Video Analysis of Prehospital Emergency Intubations

Evaluation of Prehospital Emergency Intubations Using Videolaryngoscopes

The Investigators' knowledge about pre-hospital emergency intubations is still limited. Various factors such as the average and the normal range of intubation time are still unknown. Since its launch Rega videotapes all intubation attempts with the C-MAC videolaryngoscope. The investigators prospectively analysed all routinely recorded intubation videos during one year performed by the Rega crews. The investigators analysed different parameters such as first pass success rate and the time to successfully intubate alongside with others. The goal was to find out more about this difficult procedure, about the problems which regularly occur and on what should be put particular emphasis during training.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Intubation; Videolaryngoscopy; Prehospital

Detailed Description

Pre-hospital emergency intubations are especially hazardous. The incidence of unanticipated difficult airways is higher (9,3 % of prehospital intubations are more difficult than anticipated). The first attempt intubation success rates are lower and the rate of complications compared to in-hospital emergency intubations is higher.

There is conflicting evidence if first attempt intubation success rate in prehospital intubations differs between intubations performed by videolaryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy. On the other hand in pre-hospital airway management, the use of a C-MAC videolaryngoscope improved the visualization of glottic structures significantly.

The C-MAC has recently launched a new version, which allows videotaping of intubations. Rega decided to videotape all intubation attempts for legal purposes and quality control. These videos are stored at a Rega-based secure central database.

The Investigators knowledge there is only one video-enhanced retrospective analyses of a limited number of videolaryngoscopic pre-hospital intubations.

So far, there is no video-enhanced prospective analysis of first attempt intubation success rates or of the time necessary for successful intubation with videolaryngoscopes in the pre-hospital setting available. Therefore, the investigators intend to determine the exact first attempt intubation success rate and the time necessary to successfully intubate, alongside with parameters such as the Cormack/Lehane grade, blade position (Macintosh vs Miller) and others (e.g. difficulties during intubation) in the pre-hospital physician-staffed HEMS-setting. The investigators' goal is to learn more about what is actually happening during prehospital intubations and what type of difficulties may occur.

The investigators therefore prospectively analysed all routinely recorded intubation videos (using the built-in camera of the C-MAC videolaryngoscope) during one year performed by the Rega crews. These videos show real life intubations through the video function included in the device, only the image from the tip of the laryngoscopy blade inside the patient's mouth is recorded. The operating physicians additionally provided anonymous information about intubation management for each video after returning to the helicopter base

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 422

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Bern, Switzerland, 3011
    • Bern University Hospital and University of Bern

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All Patients which underwent Intubation performed by the Rega during 1year (15.02.18-14.02.19) because of medical or Trauma associated reasons (with or without cardiac arrest).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All videos routinely taken from intubations performed during 1 year at the Swiss Air Rescue (Rega) at all 13 helicopter bases

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who were intubated primarily using other devices without a camera
• Intubations that were not recorded (missing data).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
First attempt intubation success rate	Rate of a successful intubation at first attempt	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall success rate	The overall rate of successful intubation	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Time intervals during intubation	entry-to-tube time (C-MAC crossing the lips to first appearance of tracheal tube in the field of view), time to intubation (C-MAC crossing the lips for the first time until passage of the tube through the vocal cords, the video is kept running throughout the intubation procedure), time between passage of the tube until removal of the blade from the mouth, overall time (from C-MAC crossing the lips for the first time until removal, the video is kept running throughout the intubation procedure), tube time (time from first appearance of the tube in the field until passage of the tube through the vocal cords), intubation time of the successful intubation attempt (C-MAC crossing the lips in the successful attempt until passage of the tube through vocal cords)	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Number of intubation attempts	The total number of attempts needed for the intubation	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Best C/L(Cormack/ Lehane 1-4) grade and best POGO (percent of glottis Opening 0 - 100 %) score	The best C/L and best POGO score achieved during the intubation	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Additional Airway devices used	If additional devices have been used (e.g. Frova-like,catheter, Magill forceps, suction catheter)	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Number of glottic hits	Number of attempts to advance the tracheal tube, but only glottic structures are being hit	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Blade positioning	Blade positioning during intubation (Macintosh vs. Miller)	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Unintended blade positions	Unintended blade positions (too deep, downfolding of epiglottis)	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Secretion in the mouth and difficulties in visualisation because of it	Vomit, blood, saliva	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Fogging of the camera	videolaryngoscope camera clear or fog	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Oesophageal intubation	Oesophageal fail intubation during the procedure	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Injury of the pharyngeal mucose due to the blade	Videolaryngoscope injury of the pharyngeal mucose due to the blade	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured
Open or Closed vocal cords	Positioning of vocal cords if visible (open, closed), start of movement of vocal cords	Starts when the videolaryngoscope is inserted in the patients mouth for the first time and ends when the airway is secured

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lorenz Theiler, Prof., Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy, Bern University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Carlson JN, Quintero J, Guyette FX, Callaway CW, Menegazzi JJ. Variables associated with successful intubation attempts using video laryngoscopy: a preliminary report in a helicopter emergency medical service. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2012 Apr-Jun;16(2):293-8. doi: 10.3109/10903127.2011.640764. Epub 2011 Dec 22.
• Hossfeld B, Frey K, Doerges V, Lampl L, Helm M. Improvement in glottic visualisation by using the C-MAC PM video laryngoscope as a first-line device for out-of-hospital emergency tracheal intubation: An observational study. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2015 Jun;32(6):425-31. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000249.
• Kim SY, Park SO, Kim JW, Sung J, Lee KR, Lee YH, Hong DY, Baek KJ. How much experience do rescuers require to achieve successful tracheal intubation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation? Resuscitation. 2018 Dec;133:187-192. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.08.032. Epub 2018 Aug 30.
• Gunning M, O'Loughlin E, Fletcher M, Crilly J, Hooper M, Ellis DY. Emergency intubation: a prospective multicentre descriptive audit in an Australian helicopter emergency medical service. Emerg Med J. 2009 Jan;26(1):65-9. doi: 10.1136/emj.2008.059345.
• Smith CM, Yeung J. Airway management in cardiac arrest-Not a question of choice but of quality? Resuscitation. 2018 Dec;133:A5-A6. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.10.009. Epub 2018 Oct 15. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 15, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 14, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): February 14, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): April 29, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2019
• Last Verified: May 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Emergencies
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2017-02104

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No