Abstract PR544

Abstract

Background & Objectives: To perform a preliminary survey on difficult airway management in order to assess the state of airway management in Guangdong province. Materials & Methods: Anaesthesiologists in 66 hospitals were investigated through mailed questionnaires. The questionnaire contained nine parts: anesthesiology department information, business development information, the collocation and usage of various airway devices, difficult airway type, evaluation, anesthesia, management, and difficult airway training. Chi-square analysis was performed for the categorical variable (the three grade class-A hospitals or two grade class-A hospitals). Results: The ratio of operating room versus anaesthesiology is 1:0.99. All hospitals were equipped with the Macintosh laryngoscope, oral/nasal pharyngeal airway and Laryngeal mask airway. However, few hospitals had advanced airway devices such as the fiberoptic scope (12%) and video laryngoscope (18%) and most of the hospitals were short of some emergency airway devices. Obesity was the most cited cause for difficult airway (57.5% for three grade and 53% for two grade), followed by restricted mouth opening (48.1% for three grade and 44% for two grade). Mouth opening was the most commonly used evaluation maneuver (53.6% for three grade and 50% for two grade) for the respondents. Awake intubation for anticipated difficult airway was performed by 30 % of anaesthesiologies for three grade and 17.5% of anaesthesiologists for two grade. Nearly half of the respondents had never performed a cricothyrotomy or tracheotomy. Conclusion: Staff shortage and lack of advanced tools for difficult airways in many hospitals suggests difficult airway management needs improvement.