• Eric R Swanson and David E Fosnocht.
• Division of Emergency Medicine and AirMed, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. eswanson.airmed@attbi.com
• Air Med. J. 2002 Jul 1;21(4):28-31.

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an airway education program (AEP) on prehospital intubation.SettingUniversity-based air medical programMethodsRetrospective review of 372 consecutive intubations for 3 years before and 3 years after the institution of an AEP. Descriptive statistics were used and comparisons were made using chi-square analysis.ResultsIntubation success rate was 170/180 (94%) for the preAEP group and 186/192 (97%) for the postAEP group (P > 0.05). Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) was used in 113/180 (63%) of preAEP intubations and 145/192 (76%) of postAEP intubations (P < 0.01). NMB without sedation decreased from 62/113 (55%) in the preAEP group to 12/145 (8%) in the postAEP group (P < 0.001). Cricothyrotomy rate decreased from 10/180 (6%) in the preAEP group to 3/192 (2%) in the postAEP group (P < 0.05). Failed intubation rate in nonarrested patients during the 6-year period was 10/154 (6%) in patients receiving no medications or partial rapid sequence intubation (RSI) compared with 3/184 (2%) in patients who had full RSI (P < 0.025).ConclusionEstablishment of an AEP resulted in an increase in NMB for intubation, a dramatic decrease in the use of NMB without sedation, and a decrease in cricothyrotomy rate. The rate of intubation failure in nonarrested patients was higher in those who received no medications or partial RSI compared with full RSI.

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