Identifying and Improving Knowledge Deficits of Emergency Airway Management of Tracheotomy and Laryngectomy Patients: A Pilot Patient Safety Initiative

摘要

Objectives. To evaluate the knowledge base of hospital staff regarding emergent airwaymanagement of tracheotomy and laryngectomy patients, and the impact of theintroduction of a bedside airway form. Methods. Cross-sectional surveys of physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists at a tertiary care hospital prior to and 24 months after introduction of a bedside EmergencyAirway Access (EAA) form. Results. Pre- and postintervention surveys revealed several knowledge deficits. Preintervention, 37% of medical internists and 19% overall did not know that laryngectomypatients cannot be orally ventilated, and 67% of internists could not identify the purposeof stay sutures in recently created tracheotomies. Postintervention, these numbersimproved for all groups. Furthermore, 80% of respiratory therapists reportedencountering the EAA form in an emergent situation and found it useful. Conclusion. A knowledge deficit is identified in caregivers expected to provideemergency management of patients with airway anatomy altered by subspecialtysurgeons. Safety initiatives such as the EAA form may improve knowledge amongproviders.