Table 4 Final system variables

Number

Data variable name

Type of data

Data variable categories or values

Choose only one option unless otherwise stated.

Definition of data variable

33

Established airway management procedure (SOP)

Ordinal

1 = Yes, SOP with Checklist

2 = Yes, SOP only

3 = No SOP

SOP including algorithm for difficult intubation (expected/unexpected) available in EMS service.

34

Type of airway currency training in service

Nominal

1 = Clinical rotation with regular airway management practise (e.g. anaesthesia)

2 = Regular airway management currency assessments (e.g. RSI simulation)

3 = Regular mannequin training

4 = Regular cadaver training

5 = Other, describe

Clinical rotation: describes system with regular airway management currency (e.g. anaesthesia practise).

Regular airway management currency assessment (e.g. RSI simulation) describes systems with simulation or virtual training for airway management currency.

Cadaver and mannequin describes systems with regular airway management skill training.

Select all that apply.

35

Type of tracheal tube confirmation technique used in service

Nominal

1 = Auscultation only

2 = Capnometry only

3 = Waveform capnography

4 = Colorimetric detector (e.g. Easycap)

5 = Ultrasound

6 = Other, describe: _______________

7 = None

Capnometry is a measurement of ETCO₂ i.e., analysis alone) without a continuous written record or waveform.

Waveform capnography includes waveforms of inspiration and expiration pattern along with values for ETCO₂.

Select all that apply.

36

Airway management devices used in service

Nominal

1 = Bag-valve-mask ventilation

2 = Supraglottic airway device with suction

3 = Supraglottic airway device without suction

4 = Direct laryngoscopy with endotracheal tube (including bougie and/or stylet).

5 = Video laryngoscopy with Macintosh or Miller like blade and endotracheal tube (including bougie and/or stylet).

6 = Video laryngoscopy with hyperangulated blade and endotracheal tube (including bougie and/or stylet).

7 = Surgical emergency airway equipment

8 = Percutaneous emergency airway equipment

9 = Jet-ventilation equipment

10 = Other, describe: _______________

11 = Unknown

Airway devices available in service and provider who knows how to use it.

Bag-valve-mask ventilation includes insertion of oro/nasopharyngeal airway.

Video laryngoscopy (VL) differentiates between:

VL with Macintosh/miller like blade

VL with hyperangulated blade

Select all that apply.

37

Drugs for airway management available in service

Nominal

1 = None

2 = Thiopental

3 = Ketamine

4 = S-ketamine

5 = Propofol

6 = Fentanyl

7 = Alfentanil

8 = Morphine

9 = Midazolam

10 = Diazepam

11 = Suxamethonium

12 = Rocuronium

13 = Vasopressor

14 = Lidocain

15 = Etomidate

16 = Other, describe: ______________

Drugs used for airway management, available on scene and someone competent to administer them.

Select all that apply.

38

Highest Level of EMS provider involved in airway management on-scene

Nominal

1 = Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

2 = Paramedic

3 = Nurse (non-anaesthesia)

4 = Nurse (anaesthesia)

5 = Physician (General practitioner or other non-EP/ICU/Anaesthesiologist)

6 = Physician (Emergency Physician - EP)

7 = Physician (Intensivist - ICU)

8 = Physician (Anaesthesiologist)

9 = Unknown

Highest level of EMS provider present on scene and involved in airway management; including assessment, drugs or intervention.