Laringeal mask vs orotraqueal tube in pre-hospital care - hospital outcomes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In emergency situations, proper management of the airways becomes crucial, because flaws in this process contribute considerably to worse clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of the endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask in prehospital care in relation to hospital outcomes such as mechanical ventilation time, length of stay in the ICU and death rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a retrospective observational study, developed in a Hospital Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Sul. Patient records were used from the Emergency Mobile Service (SAMU) of Santa Cruz do Sul, sent to the Emergency Department or Ambulatory of Santa Cruz Hospital. RESULTS: 27 individuals, mostly males, with an average age of 46.5 ± 22 years, were analyzed, being the predominant cause of pre-hospital care the polytrauma. When comparing the patients who used the endotracheal tube with those who used laryngeal mask, no significant differences were observed in relation to the time of prehospital care. In the in-hospital phase, we observed a significant difference in relation to the time of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the ICU, and the same was not observed in relation to the death rate. CONCLUSION: The patients submitted to the use of the laryngeal mask in the pre-hospital care presented a shorter time of mechanical ventilation and a shorter time of hospitalization in the ICU than the patients intubated with an endotracheal tube.