Intubating a patient? Paramedics v. Anesthesiologists?!
Question: Intubating a patient.? Paramedics v. Anesthesiologists.?
I know anesthesiologists use a laryngoscope in the OR. Is that how paramedics do it out in the field.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Doctors (incluing anesthesiologists) and EMT-Ps both use a laryngoscope for most intubations. EMT-P's are often taught by anesthesiologists and have observation/practice time in the OR. Each level has to meet a minumum standard and then each is given extra education focused on techniques that they are likely to encounter/use in their proffesional carrers. Outside of anesthesiologists, ED doctors & RNs, and EMT-Ps most providers get just the basic laryngoscope method. The providers listed above who will be using the skill routinely as part of their practice will recieve a more in-depth education, including alternate methods. For example an anesthesiologists or an ED doctor are going to have in-depth training in the use of a Broncheal Scope for intubation, but an EMT-P will only get a basic familiarization, unless they're doing Critical Care transports. These are the current methods taught to EMT-Ps in my area for intubation-
- Laryngoscope
- Naso-Tracheal
- Blind: Guiding the tube in by sound
- Digital: Using fingers in the mouth instead of a scope
- Lighted Stylett: Using a lighted wand to see the end of the tube by a glow through the skin
- Seldingers: Inserting a wire through the skin of the neck and "fishing" it in
- Bougie: Related to the Seldinger technique above, but inserting a thin, flexible, plastic rod through the mouth then sliding the ET tube over it instead. Can also be used to swap tubes if needed. also it can allow the provider to insert a smaller tube, then change to a larger one where inserting the larger one first was too difficult
- Cricothyrotomy: More commonly known as a "Surgical Airway". This involves cutting an opening in the neck with a scalpel and passing the ET tube directly into the Trachea. These are considered an airway of last resort for if ither methods fail or some special situations.
EMT-Ps are also trained in Combitubes and LMAs as alternate airways. In addition they can use direct laryngoscopy with Magill forcepts to remove Foreign Body Airway Obstructions (choking).
- DavidHealth Question & Answer
- Laryngoscope
- Naso-Tracheal
- Blind: Guiding the tube in by sound
- Digital: Using fingers in the mouth instead of a scope
- Lighted Stylett: Using a lighted wand to see the end of the tube by a glow through the skin
- Seldingers: Inserting a wire through the skin of the neck and "fishing" it in
- Bougie: Related to the Seldinger technique above, but inserting a thin, flexible, plastic rod through the mouth then sliding the ET tube over it instead. Can also be used to swap tubes if needed. also it can allow the provider to insert a smaller tube, then change to a larger one where inserting the larger one first was too difficult
- Cricothyrotomy: More commonly known as a "Surgical Airway". This involves cutting an opening in the neck with a scalpel and passing the ET tube directly into the Trachea. These are considered an airway of last resort for if ither methods fail or some special situations.
EMT-Ps are also trained in Combitubes and LMAs as alternate airways. In addition they can use direct laryngoscopy with Magill forcepts to remove Foreign Body Airway Obstructions (choking).
- DavidHealth Question & Answer
They too use a laryngoscope and the same procedureHealth Question & Answer
yes, paramedics use the laryngoscope... they even have enough drugs to kill you and to bring you back.. (-:Health Question & Answer