A pilot study of the Tele-Airway Management System in a hospital emergency department

Abstract

We developed a telemedicine system for remote guidance of emergency airway management called the Tele-Airway Management System (TAMS). In a pilot study we examined the usefulness of the TAMS for intubations of actual patients in a hospital emergency department. Twenty-five patients were allocated randomly either to a TAMS group or to an on-scene directed (OSD) group. A total of 12 were intubated using the TAMS. The mean time to intubation (TAMS 62 s vs. OSD 56 s) and the success rate was not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were two oesophageal intubations in the TAMS group and four in the OSD group, but this was not significantly different (P = 0.36). There were no mechanical or technical errors such as disconnection during use of the TAMS. The pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of the TAMS as an alternative to OSD. However, a larger study will be required to determine non-superiority or equivalence.

Telemedicine Provides Noninferior Research Informed Consent for Remote Study Enrollment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Telemedicine can pair emergency physicians in community hospitals with emergency physicians or specialists in tertiary centers, allowing for tertiary experience in nontertiary centers . In addition to direct patient care, telemedicine networks are beginning to provide an avenue for expanding research beyond the academic medical center and into the community setting .…”

Teleguidance Technology for Endotracheal Intubation: A Scoping Review

“…The average number of patients for clinical studies was 50. The only prospective clinical study had 25 patients ( 7 ). The largest study in the clinical environment had 206 patients ( 10 ).…”

Respiratory Care Year in Review 2011: Long-Term Oxygen Therapy, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Airway Management, Acute Lung Injury, Education, and Management

“…[31][32][33] Cho and colleagues introduced remote guidance of airway management into clinical practice. 34 A remotely located exert supervised intubations performed by video laryngoscopy and instructed the bedside practitioners how best to proceed. This pilot study of 12 patients demonstrated the feasibility of the procedure.…”