Airway Management And Airway Clearance For Nursing And Respiratory Therapists And Paramedics
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Background: Airway management and clearance are critical skills for healthcare professionals, including nurses, respiratory therapists, and paramedics, to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation in patients. These interventions are vital in diverse settings, from emergency departments to prehospital care, where delays or errors can lead to severe complications.Aim: This review examines current practices, challenges, and evidence-based strategies in airway management and clearance across nursing, respiratory therapy, and paramedicine. It evaluates skill acquisition, interprofessional collaboration, and the effectiveness of various techniques in different clinical environments.Methods: A systematic analysis of existing literature was conducted, focusing on airway assessment, basic and advanced techniques (e.g., endotracheal intubation, supraglottic devices), and airway clearance methods (e.g., chest physiotherapy, suctioning). Studies on training effectiveness, simulation-based learning, and interdisciplinary approaches were included.Results: Findings indicate variability in competency levels among healthcare providers, with paramedics facing challenges in prehospital intubation (first-pass success rates as low as 56%). Nurses demonstrated gaps in airway emergency knowledge, while respiratory therapists excelled in evidence-based airway clearance. Interprofessional training improved outcomes, and supraglottic devices were preferred in prehospital settings for their ease of use.Conclusion: Effective airway management requires standardized training, simulation-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Tailored interventions based on patient needs and care settings enhance outcomes. Future research should address training disparities and compare airway clearance techniques for optimal clinical application.Background: Airway management and clearance are critical skills for healthcare professionals, including nurses, respiratory therapists, and paramedics, to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation in patients. These interventions are vital in diverse settings, from emergency departments to prehospital care, where delays or errors can lead to severe complications.Aim: This review examines current practices, challenges, and evidence-based strategies in airway management and clearance across nursing, respiratory therapy, and paramedicine. It evaluates skill acquisition, interprofessional collaboration, and the effectiveness of various techniques in different clinical environments.Methods: A systematic analysis of existing literature was conducted, focusing on airway assessment, basic and advanced techniques (e.g., endotracheal intubation, supraglottic devices), and airway clearance methods (e.g., chest physiotherapy, suctioning). Studies on training effectiveness, simulation-based learning, and interdisciplinary approaches were included.Results: Findings indicate variability in competency levels among healthcare providers, with paramedics facing challenges in prehospital intubation (first-pass success rates as low as 56%). Nurses demonstrated gaps in airway emergency knowledge, while respiratory therapists excelled in evidence-based airway clearance. Interprofessional training improved outcomes, and supraglottic devices were preferred in prehospital settings for their ease of use.Conclusion: Effective airway management requires standardized training, simulation-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Tailored interventions based on patient needs and care settings enhance outcomes. Future research should address training disparities and compare airway clearance techniques for optimal clinical application.
DOI: 10.64483/20251130
Authors: Faya Hadi Asseri, Hussein Ahmed Muri, Khalid ali Abdullah, Abdulaziz hassan Nahari, Naif Ahmed Alhazmi, Afaf Marzouq Raqea, Maria Ali Hakami, Mohd ahmed mohd Asiri, AHMED AWADH B ALRASHDI, Asma Rashed Lafi Aljohani, Amjad ayesh Almomen, Sanaa Abdullah Dluim AlQhtine, EMAN MANSOOR AHMED ALJISHI
Institutions: Maternity and Children's Hospital, Dammam Central Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4413324107