NextGen Learning To Elevate Your Airway Practice
A Practical Approach
Infrequent Intubator Definition: This applies to individuals who intubate less than once or twice a week, but also those who supervise others intubating, or work in low-acuity environments. If you intubate multiple times a day but they are primarily stable, healthy, and pre-screened patients then you should consider yourself an infrequent intubators regarding complex, anatomically, physiologically, or situationally difficult airway scenarios, and you should plan accordingly.
- Strategy Adjustment: Recognize the need for a different approach, focusing on mastering oxygenation techniques and utilizing checklists to avoid mistakes.
- Importance of Oxygenation: Prioritize effective oxygen delivery, even if intubation attempts fail, using face mask ventilation or LMA placement. Maintaining adequate oxygenation, even if intubation fails, allows time for recovery, seeking help, and planning the next steps.
- One Technique Mastery: Focus on mastering one intubation technique, like using a video laryngoscope with a standard geometry blade and a preloaded bougie, through repeated practice. Being skilled at one approach rather than being average at many will lead to more overall success.
- Backup Plan Importance: Prioritize a robust backup plan, such as early LMA placement for oxygenation, to manage potential intubation failures and protect the patient.
- Avoid Novel Techniques During Failed Intubation: Don’t try new tools or techniques during a failed intubation; save them for practice later.
- Prevent Skill Atrophy: Infrequent intubators should actively seek out airway opportunities to maintain their skills.
- Develop a Strategy for Skill Improvement: Infrequent intubators should create a plan to improve their skills, such as participating in intubations, taking courses, or seeking training opportunities.
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Congratulations on completing this learning space! You could stop here, but why would you want to? Look for more Situationally Difficult Airway (SDA) learning spaces and add another bundle of concepts, tools, and skills to your airway toolbox 🧰
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