Airway Confirmation

DUSTOFF Medic Podcast

Dr. Jeffrey Siegler joins us to discuss the SMOG Airway Confirmation guideline. The first half of this episode follows the SMOG, then we pivot to discuss "the sledgehammer." Dr. Siegler has conducted important research on the excessive tidal volumes delivered by the "adult" BVM. After you've listened to this episode, watch his presentation to the Joint Trauma System, and read

• Siegler, J., Kroll, M., Wojcik, S., & Moy, H. P. (2017). Can EMS providers provide appropriate tidal volumes in a simulated adult-sized patient with a pediatric-sized bag-valve-mask?. Prehospital Emergency Care, 21(1), 74-78.

Trevor mentions the difficulty of effective lung auscultation. StatPearls has a good summary.
We've posted a great ETCO2 waveform reference from the PFC Airway Management CPG under 'Resources' at dustoffmedicpodcast.com. Use the cheat sheet, but read the CPG too—it's an excellent document.
Ultrasound may be a faster method to confirm airway placement that end-tidal capnography. Take a look a this recent article:

• Chowdhury, A. R., Punj, J., Pandey, R., Darlong, V., Sinha, R., & Bhoi, D. (2020). Ultrasound is a reliable and faster tool for confirmation of endotracheal intubation compared to chest auscultation and capnography when performed by novice anaesthesia residents-A prospective controlled clinical trial. Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 14(1), 15.

Finally, ultrasound is proven to be safe and effective for use inside helicopters. The earliest reference we can find for this is below, and many studies since have bolstered this.

• Lichtenstein, D., & Courret, J. P. (1998). Feasibility of ultrasound in the helicopter. Intensive care medicine, 24(10), 1119.