Air medical journal
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Quality assurance (QA) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) are valued activities within health-care organizations. Quality assurance indicators as guidelines for quality practice usually are established intuitively. The purpose of this study was to determine an appropriate threshold for successful intubation in patients transported by air and to examine factors impacting this success rate. ⋯ Factors impacting successful intubation include cardiac arrest, use of neuromuscular blockade, use of sedatives and facial trauma. Data from the study support a threshold for successful intubation of between 90% and 95%.
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This survey attempts to identify the current standard of care for the air medical transport of the patient in cardiopulmonary arrest. ⋯ This study provides some insight on the current air medical management of the patient in cardiopulmonary arrest. National practice guidelines should be developed and tested prospectively in future studies.