Use of checklists improves the quality and safety of prehospital emergency care.

Objectives: High-level emergency medical care requires transfer of evidence-based knowledge into practice. Our study is the first to investigate the feasibility of checklists in improving prehospital emergency care.

Materials And Methods: Three checklists based on standard operating procedures were introduced: General principles of prehospital care, acute coronary syndrome and acute asthma/acutely exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Laryngeal tube and intubating laryngeal mask insertion in a manikin by first-responder trainees after a short video-clip demonstration.

Introduction: This study was performed in the Finnish Defense Forces to assess the potential applicability and value of short video clips as educational material to teach advanced airway management and as the first means of introducing the use of a laryngeal tube (LT) or an intubating laryngeal mask (ILMA) to inexperienced, military, first-responder trainees with no prior hands-on experience.

Methods: The 60 non-commissioned medical officers participating in this study were randomly assigned into one of two groups: the LT- and the ILMA-group. After viewing the video clips, the trainees were required to perform 10 consecutive, successful insertions of the given instrument into a manikin.

Artificial acrylic finger nails may alter pulse oximetry measurement.

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is the most common technique to monitor oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) during intensive care therapy. However, intermittent co-oximetry is still the "gold standard" (SaO(2)). Besides acrylic nails, numerous other factors have been reported to interfere with pulse oximetry.

Effect of nail polish on oxygen saturation determined by pulse oximetry in critically ill patients.

Introduction: Nail polish of different colours may alter accuracy and precision of pulse oximetry as previous data in healthy volunteers suggest. This trial evaluates the oxygen saturation determined by pulse oximetry and haematoximetry with nail polish of nine different colours applied.

Material And Methods: Fifty critically ill and mechanically ventilated patients in an ICU were investigated in a prospective clinical-experimental trial.

Oxygen delivery comparison of two constant-flow masks during flight to 6863 m.

Objective: Differences in mask design may alter the oxygen flow required to gain similar oxygenation at a particular altitude. The selection of the most efficient mask would be advantageous for general aviation and other applications where oxygen supply is limited.

Methods: We compared a basic mask (BAS) without valves or oxygen reservoir bag to a test mask (TST) with three valves and a reservoir designed to deliver up to 80% oxygen for critically ill patients.

Perioperative risks and their management in patients with sleep-related breathing disorders.

Patients with sleep apnea syndromes pose several challenges to the anaesthetist. These are resulting from comorbidity, but mainly from special requirements for pre-, intra- and postoperative management.Frequently, the diagnosis is not known or not diagnosed adequately, making careful preoperative evaluation of the patient by the anaesthetist imperative to identify patients at risk.

A multicenter study of the Ambu laryngeal mask in nonparalyzed, anesthetized patients.

We designed this multicenter trial to evaluate the performance and safety of the Ambu laryngeal mask, a new disposable supraglottic airway device, in patients scheduled for elective surgery. One-hundred-eighteen nonparalyzed, anesthetized patients (ASA physical status I-II, age, 18-65 yr, body mass index, 18-30 kg/m(-2)) receiving total IV anesthesia were included in this study. After device insertion, fiberoptic position and oropharyngeal leak pressure were determined at an intracuff pressure of 60 cm H2O.

Airway management with the Laryngeal Tube Suction II in a patient with cervical spine injury.

Supraglottic airway devices may offer alternative strategies for securing the airway in patients with cervical spine injuries. A case of airway management with the LTS II, a modified version of the laryngeal tube suction, in a patient with a paramedian atlas fracture scheduled for decompression of a haematoma on the forehead is described. Device insertion was successful in the first attempt and a gastric tube was inserted without problems.

Ventilation with the laryngeal tube in pediatric patients undergoing elective ambulatory surgery.

Background: The laryngeal tube is a new supraglottic alternative for securing the airway. Few data on the use of this airway device in pediatric patients are so far available. Experiences of the study are reported.

Detection of a systolic pressure threshold for reliable readings in pulse oximetry.

Objective: To determine the error of measurement in pulse oximetry with a decreased arterial perfusion and to identify a systolic pressure threshold for (1) initial detection and (2) a reliable reading of oxygen saturation.

Design: An experimental clinical prospective study. The study was approved by the local ethics committee.