Telemedicine and Telepresence for Prehospital and Remote Hospital Tracheal Intubation Using a GlideScope™ Videolaryngoscope: A Model for Tele-Intubation

Abstract

Videolaryngoscopes allows for assistance with remote tracheal intubation and should be strongly considered as a component of teletrauma and telepresence programs to assist with difficult airway management.

What’s New in Airway Management

“…50 Many airway education websites are accessible and free via the internet (http://www.airwaycarnival.com, http://www.airway.com). Telemedicine has also recently been applied to airway management.…”

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.…”

Telepresent Intubation Supervision Is as Effective as In-Person Supervision of Procedurally Naive Operators

“…1 Telemedicine is a viable alternative for providing expert consultation and procedural guidance in rural and remote prehospital settings, [2][3][4][5][6] particularly in the fields of trauma and emergency medicine. 7,8 In 2010, Sakles et al 9 reported the first case of a remotely assisted tracheal intubation. Using a Glidescope Ò videolaryngoscope (Verathon Medical Inc., Bothell, WA) with a telemedicine network, a realtime communication was obtained with the healthcare provider performing the procedure in a remote hospital.…”

“…20 The University of Arizona Medical Center and the Arizona Telemedicine Program in Tucson, AZ have established a robust telemedicine network with links to remote hospitals and prehospital medical services. 9 The clinical utility of this telemedicine program suggests it may be useful as an effective approach for teaching and guidance of novice healthcare providers in rural areas. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of telepresent supervision in teaching procedurally naive operators to perform tracheal intubation.…”