Patient safety
anaesthesia is delivered and airway management takes place, requirements for all anaesthetists to be competent and skilled in the use of videolaryngoscopes, requirements for anaesthetists to be regularly updated on airway rescue techniques, such as emergency front of neck airway, requirements for anaesthetists and anaesthetic assistants to be regularly updated on other equipment that may be used in airway emergencies. This will support anaesthetic staff to become familiar with and competent in the use of airway rescue equipment and techniques available locally.
The British Inherited Metabolic Diseases Group has also amended the content of their guidance with specific reference to specialist guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Difficult Airway Society in relation to videolaryngoscopy and incorporating reference to both planned and unanticipated/acute airway interventions.
SCAN ME COMMENT with VICTORIA DOCHERTY
The importance of airway training
Victoria Docherty, Training Manager, at Pentland Medical, highlights the risks around dislodged tubes and the need for further training in theatres on the solutions and techniques that can improve patient safety. The HSSIB’s investigation earlier this year highlighted the importance of training to
mitigate the risks associated with airway management. It is clear that there is a need to implement critical incident training for anaesthetists and anaesthetic assistants in general, and we fully support the HSSIB’s recommendation to include scenario-based training to help prepare for expected or unexpected difficult airways using advanced airway techniques.
CSJ
While difficult airways can present significant safety challenges, there are also other risks that need to be addressed in theatres, on a day-to-day basis. In the intricate dance of surgery, the securement of endotracheal tubes plays a critical role in patient safety. A dislodged tube can swiftly escalate into a life-threatening situation, making the choice of securing method and material a decision of utmost importance. It is important to also educate on the advancements in airway securement, including new methods that negate the need for traditional tape and tie, which – despite being common practice in theatres globally – are not a safe, tested or regulated way of performing such a vital function. Traditionally, securing endotracheal tubes and all other airways in Operating Theatres has
relied on makeshift methods, often using standard cloth tape or micropore. With supply and material shortages now a part of everyday healthcare this leads to many varieties of tapes with different strengths of adhesive, which can compromise patient safety. Above all else, tape and ties are not safe in the first place for such an important cog in the overall picture of patient safety during anaesthesia. A fit for purpose, medical device should be used. To achieve a CE mark and status as a medical device under the new EU Medical Device
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About HSSIB
The HSSIB aims to be the global leader in professional, high quality healthcare safety investigations. It investigates patient safety concerns across England to improve NHS care at a national level. Through its education programme, it helps embed professional safety investigation expertise in healthcare organisations. Its investigations do not find blame or liability with individuals or organisations. Information shared is confidential and protected by law. HSSIB is a fully independent arm’s length body of the Department of Health and Social Care. To learn more about the HSSIB’s latest safety recommendations, visit:
www.hssib.org.uk.
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Regulations, a fit for purpose product for securing a patient airway must face rigorous testing and demonstrate the ability to withstand the forces that might cause a tube to dislodge during a procedure. The material must be consistent in supply, and the highest level of patient safety must be achieved consistently. With such a wide range of circumstances encountered daily in Operating Theatres, as well as numerous surgical positions and a variety of different airway products, it is easy to think that a range of options would be useful to secure the airway. However, there is now an airway securing device available that can be adapted to meet all circumstances likely to present in theatres. Operating theatres need to be supported with training resources to help drive improvement in safe airway management. The Pentland Medical training portal has been developed to help meet this need.
It offers comprehensive training videos that cover a wide range of patient airways, including the securement of endotracheal tubes, LMAs, Rae Tubes and more. The portal also demonstrates how the latest innovation, the Leafix (Laryngeal Endo-Tracheal Airway Fixator) device, can secure all patient airways in all surgical positions. By leveraging such educational tools, healthcare providers can enhance their skills and ensure they are providing the gold standard in airway securement and ultimately patient safety. In conclusion, the security of endotracheal tubes and all airways is a critical aspect of
surgical care that demands attention and continuous improvement. As new materials and methods emerge, it is imperative for healthcare providers to engage with educational resources to help refine their practices. Through informed application of these advancements, we can ensure the highest standards of patient safety and care in the surgical environment. Visit the Pentland Medical Training Portal at:
www.pentlandmedical.co.uk/training-portal/
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