Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of selected methods of alternative airway management by nursing staff.
Material and methods. A prospective, pilot observational study was conducted on a group of 51 nurses undergoing specialization training or with specialty. Each nurse managed the airway with a laryngeal mask (LMA-Laryngeal Mask) and a laryngeal tube (LT-D-Laryngeal Tube) on a BT-CSIE trainer, and then carried out one minute ventilation using a bag valve mask, according to possessed knowledge and skills. The obtained parameters (time, pressure on the incisors, head tilt, ventilation quality) were recorded using a dedicated tablet. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBMSPSS Statistics 20 package.
Results. No statistically significant differences were observed between the trials to open the airway using LMA and LT-D. Higher efficiency of LMA airway opening was demonstrated in the first trial and the average tidal volume during ventilation in relation to LT-D (LMA 547.84ml vs. LT-D 522.63ml). In addition, there was a significant difference in pressure on the incisors (LMA 6.82N vs. LT-D 4.12N).
Conclusions. The effectiveness of LMA and LT-D insertion was assessed at a high level, with no significant differences between them. Variables: age, seniority, education level and type of specialization did not significantly differentiate the results obtained.
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