• T Staudinger, S Brugger, B Watschinger, M Röggla, C Dielacher, T Löbl, D Fink, R Klauser, and M Frass.
• Department of Medicine I, Intensive Care Unit, Vienna, Austria.
• Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Oct 1;22(10):1573-5.

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Combitude as used by ICU nurses under medical supervision compared with endotracheal airway established by ICU physicians during CPR.DesignProspective study of ICU patients over a seven-month period.SettingMedical ICU.ParticipantsThirty-seven patients suffering from cardiac arrest.InterventionsEmergency intubation with either the Combitube by nurses or the endotracheal airway by physicians and subsequent mechanical ventilation.Measurements And Main ResultsEvaluation of blood gases after 20 minutes of mechanical ventilation. Intubation time was shorter for the Combitube (P < .001). Blood gases for each device showed comparable results; PaO2 was slightly higher during ventilation with the Combitube (P < .001).ConclusionThe Combitube as used by ICU nurses was as effective as establishment of the endotracheal airway by intensivists during CPR. The Combitube may be used whenever endotracheal intubation cannot be performed immediately.

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