Due to the complexity of polytrauma patients locally and the frequency of difficult airways, all non-anaesthetic ICM trainees should undergo a formal assessment of airway management skills with one of the consultants at the beginning of their attachment prior to attending trauma calls. If you subsequently attend a trauma call with a particularly difficult airway (eg facial trauma / burns) you should get assistance from a senior anaesthetist (e.g. 1220). If you would like to get some advanced airway practice (e.g. videolaryngoscopes, intubating LMA, Airtraq etc.) in the controlled environment of the operating theatre please contact Dr Julia Hadley.
Junior anaesthetic trainees (CT1/2) should not attend trauma calls without support from a senior trainee.
Rapid Sequence Induction Checklist
In the ED, attached to every airway trolley, there is a Rapid Sequence Induction Checklist. This checklist has been produced following near misses and incidences of poor airway management around the RSI of critically ill patients outside the ACCU.
- It is a talk and respond checklist
- It must be gone through before between the doctor in charge of the airway and their assistant at every RSI.
- Record the completion of the checklist in the documentation of the induction