18. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
Fig 30-1: The EMS Difficult Airway Algorithm (Manual of Emergency Airway Management)
19. Difficult Airway
predicted?
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
Fig 30-1: The EMS Difficult Airway Algorithm (Manual of Emergency Airway Management)
23. Difficult Airway
predicted?
If I can’t tube
him, can I bag
him?
Is he easy to
tube?
If I can’t bag him,
can I place an
EGD?
If all else fails, can
I cric him?
65. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
66. Scoop and Run
• Factors to consider
– Available manpower
– Available equipment
– Local protocols
– Provider experience
– Hospital location
– Amount of trauma
– Patient vitals
– Number of patients
– Mechanism of injury
– Medical history
– Response to treatment
– Weather
– Phase of the moon
– Patient’s Zodiac sign
– Insurance provider
– Local legal environment
– Your officer’s mood that day
– Whether patient is nice
– Number of runs that day
– Whether patient is on fire
– If you are left or right handed
– Would you rather get the cric
67.
68. Recent Evidence
TBI
124 severe TBI
Better
outcomes with
basic airways
OHCA
10,000 patients
Better outcome
with no airway
placement
TBI
Case Control
(55 vs 165)
Higher
mortality for
ETI group
69. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
70. House Fire/Stridor
GCS 15
1 Hour Transport
SaO2=70%
Stroke Alert
GCS 6
10 minute transport
SaO2=99% on room air
71. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
72. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
73. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
74. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
75. Failed Airway
Cannot intubate,
Can oxygenate
Scoop and
run
BVM
Cannot intubate,
Cannot Oxygenate
EGD while
preparing for
cric
Cric if EGD
not adequate
77. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
78. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM
79.
80.
81. Difficult Airway
predicted?
If I can’t tube
him, can I bag
him?
Is he easy to
tube?
If I can’t bag him,
can I place an
EGD?
If all else fails, can
I cric him?
83. Difficult Airway
predicted
Forced to act?
Failure to
oxygenate?
BMV or EGD
predicted
success?
Consider scoop
and run
Predict
successful ETI?
Give RSI drugs
One best
attempt
successful?
RSI with double
setup
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
Y
FAILED
AIRWAY
PIM