Utility of letters sent to patients after difficult airway management.

摘要

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postoperative "difficult airway" letters, which inform a patient that he has a difficult airway, are an effective way to communicate with patients and future caregivers. DESIGN: Patient telephone survey. SETTING: Tertiary referral and postgraduate teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 113 (of a total of 142) patients who were mailed a postoperative "difficult airway" letter during the time period 2000-2002, and who agreed to participate in the survey. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: The patients who participated in the study were asked a series of questions regarding their difficult airway history, including whether or not their primary care provider was aware of their condition, whether or not the patient had obtained a MedicAlert(R) bracelet or necklace as recommended, whether or not they had undergone subsequent surgery, and if so had they conveyed their difficult airway history to their surgeon or anesthesiologist. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 142 patients who were sent letters, 113 agreed to participate. Of those who did not, two patients who were contacted refused to participate. Twenty-three patients could not be contacted following several attempts, and four patients had died. Twenty-eight patients (20%) stated they could not remember receiving a letter. Forty-six (41%) stated that they had informed their primary care provider about their difficult airway. Twenty-two of 24 patients (92%) who had undergone subsequent surgery indicated they had informed their anesthesiologist about their airway. Twenty-six patients (23%) had registered with the MedicAlert Foundation. As a result of the survey, 44 patients requested more information about their airway and MedicAlert(R). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients who were sent a "difficult airway" letter did not obtain a MedicAlert(R) bracelet, although frequently recommended. However, most of the patients who subsequently had surgery informed their anesthesiologist or surgeon of their airway history. Difficult airway do not obtain identifying jewelry.