4
Study Design: 12 Anesthesiologists performed intubations on mannequins using 3 different situations (no box, early generation box, and late generation box).
• Early Generation Box with two holes for hand.
• Late Generation Box with two holes for hand and added ports for assistant,
suction, bougie.
• Providers were able to practice with each box prior to being timed.
• Mannequin was Airsim Advance Crico and tongue was inflated to make grade
2A view.
• Bougie, Malleable Stylet, and a Videolaryngoscop (C-MAC) were available.
To Box or Not to Box?
Provider Health
• Breaches of PPE included gown being stuck in arm hole or tearing from hole.
Take Away: Given the acuity of and often hypoxic nature of COVID intubations, it is probably prudent for intubation to have first pass success, and standard procedures probably should be followed. While this study is small and does not test for aerosolization risk it does pose a concern for the safety and efficacy of using these boxes. Perhaps a plastic sheet may be a good compromise. Click Here to view the full article.