The effect of an airway algorithm on flight nurse behavior

This study examined the effects of a clinical algorithm (based on Glasgow Coma Scale) on the airway management of patients transported from the scene of accident or illness by a helicopter emergency medical service staffed with two flight nurses. The year before institution of the algorithm was compared to the subsequent year. Patients from the two years were similar with regard to diagnoses and physiologic status. Patients transported after the introduction of the algorithm were over twice as likely to have had an airway maneuver attempted. An algorithm defining when airway maneuvers ought to be attempted in the field may assist flight nurses in more aggressively managing airways.