The effect of an airway algorithm on flight nurse behavior

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care
• Pre-hospital Care

Background:

• Airway management is critical in trauma and critical illness.
• Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) play a vital role in patient transport.
• Standardized protocols can improve pre-hospital care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a clinical algorithm on airway management by HEMS nurses.
• To assess changes in airway maneuver utilization after algorithm implementation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study comparing one year before and one year after algorithm implementation.
• Analysis of patients transported by HEMS staffed with flight nurses.
• Utilized Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) as a basis for the clinical algorithm.

Main Results:

• Patients treated after algorithm introduction were more than twice as likely to undergo airway maneuvers.
• No significant differences in patient diagnoses or physiologic status between the two groups.
• Algorithm use correlated with more aggressive airway management.

Conclusions:

• A GCS-based clinical algorithm can enhance airway management in pre-hospital settings.
• Implementation of such algorithms may lead to improved patient outcomes through timely interventions.
• Flight nurses can effectively utilize clinical algorithms for critical airway decisions.