Open AccessIntubation drug pack containing pre-filled syringes reduces the time to endotracheal intubation in a simulated paediatric emergency
Author(s) -
Sara Lawson,
Christopher Flannigan,
Carolyn Green,
Lynsey Freeburn,
Anne Burns,
Joseph E. McCann,
Thomas Bourke
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj simulation and technology enhanced learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.292
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2056-6697
DOI - 10.1136/bmjstel-2019-000437
Subject(s) - endotracheal intubation , medicine , intubation , anesthesia , emergency department , emergency medicine , medical emergency , nursing
To determine if an intubation drugs pack containing pre-filled syringes can reduce the time to endotracheal intubation compared with standard care during a simulated paediatric emergency. Twenty doctors (10 consultants and 10 registrars) who worked in the paediatric intensive care unit or anaesthetic department of a tertiary paediatric hospital were asked to participate in an in situ simulated emergency paediatric intubation scenario. The participants were instructed to prepare and administer intubation medications. They were randomised to either an intubation drug pack, containing pre-filled syringes or to standard care where each of the drugs had to be individually drawn-up. The mean time to intubation when using the pre-filled syringes of 159.5 s was over three times faster than with standard care of 497.5 s (p<0.001), allowing intubation to occur on average 5 min and 38 s earlier. Utilising an intubation drug pack containing pre-filled syringes significantly reduced the time from decision to intubate to intubation in a simulated paediatric emergency. This applied irrespective of clinical experience with registrars utilising the pre-filled syringes outperforming consultant anaesthetists when they used standard care.