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Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)
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Respiratory protection during simulated emergency pediatric life support: a randomized, controlled, crossover study

Jan Schumacher1, Stuart A Gray, Sophie Michel

  • 1King's College, London, UK. jan.schumacher@kcl.ac.uk

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|October 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Conventional air-purifying respirators (APRs) offered better communication and dexterity during simulated pediatric emergencies compared to powered air-purifying respirator-hoods (PAPRs). However, PAPRs reduced heat buildup, though both respirator types impacted treatment times.

Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Pediatric Resuscitation

Background:

  • Effective respiratory protection is crucial for medical first responders during emergency pediatric life support (EPLS) for children with transmissible respiratory diseases.
  • Conventional air-purifying respirators (APRs) and powered air-purifying respirator-hoods (PAPRs) may impact pediatric resuscitation differently, necessitating evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of APRs versus PAPR-hoods during simulated pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation scenarios.
  • To compare treatment times and wearer comfort between different respiratory protection methods.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, controlled, crossover study design was employed.
  • Sixteen paramedics performed a standardized EPLS scenario in an ambulance, either unprotected, with a conventional APR, or with a PAPR-hood.
  • Treatment times and wearer comfort were recorded and compared across conditions.

Main Results:

  • All participants completed the simulated treatments without adverse events.
  • Communication, dexterity, and mobility were rated significantly better with APRs.
  • Heat buildup was significantly less with PAPR-hoods.
  • Treatment times did not significantly differ from the control for APRs, but were significantly longer for PAPR-hoods.

Conclusions:

  • Conventional APRs demonstrated a trend towards better treatment times compared to PAPR-hoods in simulated pediatric resuscitation.
  • Participants found mobility, communication, and dexterity superior with the tight-fitting APR system over the loose-fitting PAPR-hood.
Abstract

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