A novel negative pressure isolation device reduces aerosol exposure: A randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Infectious Disease Control
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for intubation barriers to protect healthcare workers.
• The Suction-Assisted Local Aerosol Containment Chamber (SLACC) was developed as a novel intubation device.
• Evaluating SLACC's safety, ease of use, and aerosol containment efficacy was crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and ease of airway management using the SLACC device.
• To quantify the aerosol containment efficacy of SLACC in reducing healthcare worker exposure.
• To compare particle exposure during airway management with and without SLACC.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving adult patients undergoing elective surgery with general endotracheal anesthesia.
• Patients were randomized to airway management with or without the SLACC device.
• Nebulized saline was used to simulate infectious aerosol particles during anesthesia induction.

Main Results:

• 79 patients were enrolled; all intubations were successful with no difference in intubation time between groups.
• Healthcare workers experienced significantly lower particle number concentrations when using SLACC.
• SLACC reduced particle counts outside the device by 97% compared to counts inside.

Conclusions:

• The SLACC device is safe and does not impede airway management procedures.
• SLACC significantly reduces healthcare worker exposure to aerosolized particles during intubation.
• SLACC demonstrates high efficacy in containing infectious aerosols during airway procedures.