Evaluation of Airway & Ventilation Devices

RESEARCH STRANDS

EVALUATION OF AIRWAY AND VENTILATION DEVICES.

Objective:

This objective of research programme is to evaluate novel medical devices of relevance to Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine.  A major current focus is on the evaluation of novel laryngoscopes, in order to develop the evidence base supporting the use of these devices by different healthcare provider groups, from experienced anaesthetists to paramedics and novice users. A second focus is on the characterization of High Frequency Oscillation, in conjunction with colleagues in Biomedical Engineering at NUI Galway.

Principal Investigators:  Prof John Laffey 
                                  Dr Brian Harte

Research Fellow:         Dr Anwar Malik

Collaborators:             Dr Mark Bruzzi, Dept of Bioengineering, NUI Galway.

Ongoing Research Projects

1.  Determination of the efficacy of the Pentax AWS laryngoscope device in patients at low risk for difficult intubation.

2. Determination of the efficacy of the Pentax AWS laryngoscope device in patients at high risk for difficult intubation.

3. Determination of the efficacy of the Truview laryngoscope device in patients undergoing cervical immobilization.

Selected completed Research Projects

4. Determination of the efficacy of the Truview laryngoscope device in patients at high risk for difficult intubation.

5. Determination of the efficacy of novel laryngoscope devices for use by emergency medical personnel.

6. Comparison of the Airtraq device to the Macintosh Laryngoscope for Tracheal Intubation.

Selected Recent Publications

(1) Nasim S, Maharaj CH, Butt I, O’ Donnell J, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Comparison of the Pentax AWS® and Glidescope® laryngoscopes to the Macintosh laryngoscope for use by Advanced Paramedics in both easy and simulated difficult intubation. BMC Emerg Med 2009 (in press).

(2) Malik A, Ram, Churasia S, Maharaj CH, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Comparison of the Pentax AWS® and LMA Ctrach® laryngoscopes to the Macintosh laryngoscope in cervical spine immobilization. Br J Anaesth. 2009 May;102(5):654-61. Epub 2009 Mar 31

(3) Nasim S, Maharaj CH, Butt I, O’ Donnell J, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Comparison of the Airtraq® and Truview® laryngoscopes to the Macintosh laryngoscope for use by Advanced Paramedics in both easy and simulated difficult intubation. BMC Emerg Med 2009, 9:2.

(4) Malik MA, O’Donoghue C, Carney J, Maharaj CH, Harte BH, Laffey JG.  A comparison of the Glidescope®, the Pentax AWS® and the Truview® EVO2 to the Macintosh laryngoscope in experienced Anaesthetists – A manikin study. Br J Anaes 2009 102: 128-134.

(5) Heraty KB, Laffey JG, Quinlan HJ. Fluid dynamics of gas exchange in high frequency oscillatory ventilation: in vitro investigations in idealised and anatomically realistic airway bifurcation models. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 2008 Sep 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18785010 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

(6) Malik MA, Maharaj CH, Harte BH, Laffey JG.  A Comparison of Macintosh, Truview EV02, Glidescope® and Airwayscope® Laryngoscopes in Patients with Cervical Spine Immobilization. Br J Anaesth. 2008 Nov;101(5):723-30. Epub 2008 Sep 9.

(7) Maharaj CH, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Evaluation of the Airtraq and Macintosh in Patients at increased risk for difficult tracheal intubation. Anesthesia 2008 Feb;63(2):182-8 [PMID: 18211450].

(8) Maharaj CH, McDonnell JG, Harte BH, Laffey JG. A comparison of the utility of direct and indirect laryngoscopes and the iLMA in novice users: A manikin study. Anaesthesia 2007 Nov;62(11):1161-6. PMID: 17924898

(9) Maharaj CH, Buckley E, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Endotracheal Intubation in Patients with Cervical Spine Immobilization: A Comparison of Macintosh and Airtraq Laryngoscopes. Anesthesiology. 2007 Jul;107(1):53-59. PMID: 17585215 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

(10) Maharaj CH, Higgins B, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Retention of tracheal intubation skills by novice personnel: A comparison of the Airtraq® and Macintosh laryngoscopes. Anaesthesia 2007 Mar;62(3):272-8. PMID: 17300305 [PubMed - in process].

(11) Maharaj CH, Ni Chonghaile M, Higgins BD, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Tracheal intubation by inexperienced medical residents using the Airtraq and Macintosh laryngoscopes-a manikin study. Am J Emerg Med. 2006 Nov;24(7):769-774. PMID: 17098095 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher].

(12) Maharaj CH, O’ Croinin D, Curley G, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Evaluation of ease of intubation with the Airtraq® or Macintosh laryngoscope in routine airway management: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Anaesthesia 2006 Nov;61(11):1093-9.  PMID: 17042849 [PubMed - in process].

(13) Maharaj CH, Higgins B, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Learning and performance of tracheal intubation by novice personnel: a comparison of the Airtraq and Macintosh laryngoscope. Anaesthesia. 2006 Jul;61(7):671-7. PMID: 16792613 [PubMed - in process]

(14) Maharaj CH, Higgins B, Harte BH, Laffey JG. Evaluation of ease of intubation with the Airtraq® or Macintosh laryngoscope by anaesthetists in easy and simulated difficult laryngoscopy – A manikin study. Anaesthesia 2006 May;61(5):469-77. PMID: 16674623 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]